Call Philippines from Saudi Arabia: OFW Calling Guide + Verified Rates (2026)
OFW calling guide 2026 — call Philippines from Saudi Arabia using Facebook Messenger (free, works on Saudi networks since 2017 unblock), STC Sawa International, or BubblyPhone $0.23-0.41/min. Full Globe/Smart/DITO/PLDT carrier guide for ~900K Filipino OFWs in KSA.
Around 900,000 Filipino OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) live and work in Saudi Arabia, the third-largest Filipino diaspora community globally after the US and UAE. Concentrated in healthcare, hospitality, construction and domestic-help sectors across Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Mecca and Medina, OFWs in Saudi call home to Manila, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao constantly. The good news: WhatsApp, Messenger and Viber voice calls were officially unblocked in September 2017, and Filipino calling apps work on STC, Mobily and Zain networks. This guide covers the verified 2026 options, including the Globe / Smart / DITO carrier landscape on the Philippine side.
Saudi→Philippines quick reference
Generally works on Saudi networks:
- WhatsApp voice/video
- Facebook Messenger voice (huge in Philippines)
- Viber voice (popular OFW choice)
- FaceTime audio (video occasionally)
- Telegram, Google Meet, Zoom
Verified options:
- STC Sawa International to Philippines: ~SAR 0.27–0.99/min
- STC Flex Philippines bundle (if available)
- BubblyPhone (browser): ~$0.23–0.41/min by carrier
- WhatsApp / Messenger / Viber: free between users
Philippines country code: +63 · From Saudi: dial 00 63 (number without leading 0), or +63 from mobile
Free Calling Apps That Work for OFW-Philippines Corridor
Filipino household communication is dominated by Facebook Messenger to a degree unusual elsewhere — Messenger has higher voice-call usage in the Philippines than WhatsApp does. The 2017 Saudi unblock applies to Messenger voice too: it works on STC, Mobily and Zain networks. Practical app picture in 2026:
- Facebook Messenger— ~85% of Filipino smartphone users. The default for family voice/video calls. Works on Saudi networks.
- WhatsApp— growing share in Philippines, now ~55% among urban users. Works on Saudi networks.
- Viber— historically strong OFW choice for staying in touch with family. Still significant share among 30+ users. Works on Saudi networks.
- FaceTime (audio)— common in iPhone-heavy households. Saudi allows audio reliably; video occasionally has quality issues.
- Truecaller in-app voice— less common in Philippines than in South Asia but still useful if your contact has it for caller ID.
For the full Saudi-side VoIP landscape (WhatsApp unblock history, CST stance, VPN legality), see our companion free calls in Saudi Arabia guide.
Verified Saudi→Philippines Cost Comparison (May 2026)
| Method | Rate to Philippines | 10-Min Call | Activation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STC standard (no add-on) | ~SAR 1.50+/min | ~SAR 15+ | Default; activate package below |
| STC Sawa International (Philippines) | ~SAR 0.27–0.99/min by tier | ~SAR 2.70–9.90 | Call 1500 or mySTC app |
| STC monthly Philippines bundle | Varies by plan | Within bundle | Check mySTC for current Philippines packages |
| BubblyPhone (browser) | $0.23–0.41/min by carrier (Globe $0.32, Smart $0.39, DITO $0.35, PLDT $0.38) | ~$2.30–4.10 | Email signup; 30 min free credit |
| Mobily / Zain Philippines bundles | Varies | Varies | Via carrier app or USSD |
| Facebook Messenger / Viber / WhatsApp | Free app-to-app | Free | Recipient needs the same app |
STC Sawa International Philippines rates verified from STC public pages, May 2026. BubblyPhone Philippines rates from /rates/philippines (Globe $0.3199, Smart $0.3935, DITO $0.3494, Sun $0.4098, PLDT landline $0.3788).
Honest reality for OFW callers:Philippines is one of the more expensive destinations because wholesale termination rates to Philippine carriers (especially mobile) are higher than for India / Pakistan / Bangladesh. STC Sawa International prices Philippines in the higher tier (SAR 0.27–0.99/min, depending on add-on level), and BubblyPhone is similar at $0.23–0.41/min by carrier. For OFW calling home, the genuinely cheapest option is Facebook Messengerapp-to-app — install it on both ends, stay free. For landline / unknown-number calls, expect to pay per-minute.
Philippine Mobile Carrier Decoder
Philippine mobile numbers are 10 digits starting with 9(dropping the leading 0 from domestic format). From Saudi, prefix with +63:
| Prefix (after +63) | Carrier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 917, 905, 906, 915, 916, 926, 927 | Globe | Largest network; strong urban coverage |
| 918, 919, 920, 921, 928, 929, 930, 939 | Smart (PLDT) | Second-largest; strong rural coverage |
| 991, 992, 993, 994, 995, 996, 997 | DITO Telecommunity | Third operator (since 2021); growing footprint |
| 932, 942, 943, 932, 933, 935 | Sun Cellular (Smart subsidiary) | Merged with Smart; legacy numbers |
Major Philippine Landline Area Codes
| City / Region | Dial from Saudi |
|---|---|
| Manila / Metro Manila | +63 2 |
| Cebu | +63 32 |
| Davao | +63 82 |
| Iloilo | +63 33 |
| Baguio | +63 74 |
| Cagayan de Oro | +63 88 |
Call Philippines from Saudi
BubblyPhone works on STC, Mobily and Zain networks. Email signup, 30 free minutes, then $0.23–0.41/min to any Globe, Smart, DITO or PLDT number depending on the recipient's carrier. For free OFW-family calling, Facebook Messenger works on Saudi networks.
Get 30 Free Minutes →Common Questions
What is the cheapest way to call Philippines from Saudi Arabia for OFWs?
For free calling, Facebook Messengerdominates the Filipino corridor — works app-to-app, Saudi allows Messenger voice since the 2017 unblock. WhatsApp and Viber are also free and work on Saudi networks. For real phone-number calls (landlines, unknown numbers), STC Sawa International tier packages and BubblyPhone's ~$0.23–0.41/min are the practical options. Philippines is one of the more expensive destinations because wholesale carrier termination rates are higher than for India / Pakistan.
Does Facebook Messenger work in Saudi Arabia for calling Philippines?
Yes. Facebook Messenger voice and video work on Saudi networks since the 2017 VoIP ban lift. Messenger is the dominant chat / voice app in the Philippines (~85% of smartphone users), so this is usually the easiest free-calling option for OFW households. WhatsApp and Viber also work on Saudi networks.
Why is calling Philippines more expensive than calling India from Saudi?
Wholesale termination rates — what a calling service has to pay the Philippine mobile carrier (Globe, Smart, DITO) to deliver each minute — are higher than for Indian carriers. The Philippines hasn't had the same level of price competition that Jio brought to India in 2017–2018. STC, Mobily and third-party VoIP providers all reflect this in their rates: India at SAR 0.05/min, Philippines at SAR 0.27–0.99/min depending on the calling package.
Can I call a PLDT landline in Manila from Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Any service that terminates on the Philippine PSTN reaches PLDT landlines. STC Sawa International, Mobily international bundles, Zain plans and BubblyPhone all connect. Format: Manila +63 2 + 8-digit local number (note Manila's landline numbers were extended to 8 digits in 2019; older 7-digit numbers may still work with leading digit prepended).
What time zone is Philippines? When's the best time to call from Saudi?
Philippines is on PHT (UTC+8); Saudi Arabia is on AST (UTC+3). Philippines is 5 hours aheadof Saudi year-round. Best calling windows for OFWs: evening 7–10 PM Saudi hits midnight–3 AM Philippines (avoid late-night). Morning 5–8 AM Saudi hits 10 AM–1 PM Philippines (ideal — family at home for lunch). Friday afternoon Saudi = Friday evening Philippines, ideal for the weekly catch-up call.
Which Philippine mobile carrier does each number belong to?
Philippine mobile numbers start with +63 9 (after dropping domestic leading 0). Globe uses 917, 905, 906, 915, 916, 926, 927; Smart (PLDT) uses 918, 919, 920, 921, 928, 929, 930, 939; DITO Telecommunity (newest, since 2021) uses 991–997; Sun Cellular legacy numbers (now merged into Smart) use 932–935. The third operator DITO has been growing market share rapidly.
Will my family in Philippines see my Saudi number?
Depends on the service. Calls placed from your STC, Mobily or Zain SIM show your Saudi mobile number (+966 5x xxx xxxx) as caller ID. BubblyPhone shows the verified outbound number you configure in your account. Apps like Messenger / WhatsApp / Viber show your profile name rather than a phone number on the recipient's screen.
Does Skype still work for calling Philippines from Saudi?
No. Microsoft retired Skype globally on 5 May 2025 — not specific to Saudi. Microsoft Teams is the official replacement but the free tier doesn't support calling regular phone numbers (only Teams users). See our Skype shutdown alternative guide for the actual Skype Out replacements.