How to Call Saudi Arabia From the US: Complete Guide (+966)
Table of Contents
How to Dial Saudi Arabia From the US
Saudi Arabia uses the country code +966. With over 100,000 American expats living in Saudi Arabia and millions of foreign workers who call home regularly, it is one of the most-called Middle Eastern countries.
Dialling Format
From a US phone: 011 + 966 + area code (without leading 0) + local number
From a mobile with + dialling: +966 + area code (without leading 0) + local number
Example Calls
Note the potential confusion: "011" appears twice in the Riyadh example. The first 011 is the US international exit code. The second 11 is Riyadh's area code (with the leading 0 dropped). Read it as: exit code (011) + country code (966) + area code (11) + number.
Saudi Area Codes
Saudi mobile numbers start with 05 followed by a carrier-specific digit. Drop the 0 when calling from the US:
- 050 — STC (Saudi Telecom)
- 053 — STC
- 054 — Mobily
- 055 — STC
- 056 — Mobily
- 057 — Zain
- 058 — Zain
VoIP Restrictions in Saudi Arabia
This is crucial to understand. Saudi Arabia has historically restricted VoIP services. Here is the current situation as of 2026:
- WhatsApp calls: Now generally work in Saudi Arabia. They were blocked until 2017, but restrictions have been lifted.
- FaceTime: Audio calls now work. FaceTime was previously blocked on Saudi-sold iPhones, but this restriction has been eased.
- Skype: Works for audio calls. Video calling on Skype was restricted in the past but is now generally available.
- Other VoIP services: Most major VoIP apps now work, but smaller or lesser-known services may still face intermittent blocking.
Cost Comparison
Best Time to Call Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is on Arabia Standard Time (AST, UTC+3) year-round. Saudi Arabia does not observe daylight saving time.
- 8 hours ahead of ET: 9 AM in New York = 5 PM in Riyadh
- 11 hours ahead of PT: 9 AM in LA = 8 PM in Riyadh
- Best window from ET: 8-10 AM ET = 4-6 PM in Riyadh (late afternoon)
- Business hours: Sunday-Thursday 8 AM - 5 PM AST
Practical Tips
- Weekend is Friday-Saturday. Saudi Arabia switched from Thursday-Friday to Friday-Saturday weekends in 2013. Sunday is a regular business day.
- Ramadan changes everything. During Ramadan, working hours are reduced (typically 10 AM - 3 PM). Government offices may close even earlier. Personal calls are best after iftar (sunset meal).
- Prayer times. Shops and some businesses close for prayer five times daily, typically for 20-30 minutes each time. If you call and nobody answers, it may be prayer time.
- Vision 2030 modernization. Saudi Arabia is rapidly modernizing. VoIP restrictions have loosened significantly, and communication infrastructure has improved. What was true about calling Saudi in 2020 may not apply in 2026.
- Expat community. If calling American expats in Saudi Arabia, they likely have access to good internet and modern communication tools. WhatsApp or BubblyPhone will work well.
Summary
To call Saudi Arabia from the US, dial 011 + 966 + area code (without 0) + number. BubblyPhone offers $0.01/min rates. VoIP apps now generally work in Saudi Arabia. Riyadh is 8 hours ahead of ET. Remember the work week is Sunday-Thursday, and Ramadan significantly affects business hours.
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