Gulf Country Calling Codes and Phone Number Formats Guide

Whether you are dialing a business associate in Riyadh, ordering from a merchant in Dubai, sending a WhatsApp message to family in Kuwait, or performing a reverse caller ID lookup, understanding the phone number formats and international country codes of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states is essential.

Telecom systems in the Gulf follow structured national numbering plans defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T E.164 standard). In this comprehensive reference guide, we outline the international dialing codes, mobile operator prefixes, geographic area codes, and standard digit lengths for all six GCC nations.

1. Saudi Arabia (KSA) — Country Code: +966

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia operates one of the largest telecom networks in the Middle East, regulated by the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST).

• International Dial Code: +966
• National Significant Number Length: 9 digits (excluding the domestic trunk prefix 0)
• Standard International Format: +966 5X XXX XXXX
• Mobile Number Prefixes: All mobile numbers begin with 05 locally (or +966 5 internationally) followed by 8 digits:
  • 050, 053, 055: STC (Saudi Telecom Company)
  • 054, 056: Mobily (Etihad Etisalat)
  • 058, 059: Zain KSA
  • 057: Mobile Virtual Network Operators (Virgin Mobile, Lebara, Red Bull Mobile)
• Geographic Fixed-Line (Landline) Codes:
  • 011: Riyadh Region & Capital
  • 012: Makkah, Jeddah, and Taif
  • 013: Eastern Province (Dammam, Khobar, Jubail, Dhahran)
  • 014: Madinah, Tabuk, Yanbu, and Northern Borders
  • 016: Al-Qassim, Hail, and Al-Jouf
  • 017: Asir, Abha, Jazan, and Najran
• Unified & Toll-Free Numbers: 9200 (Unified Commercial Numbers) and 800 (National Toll-Free).

2. United Arab Emirates (UAE) — Country Code: +971

Telecommunications in the UAE are regulated by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA).

• International Dial Code: +971
• Mobile Number Length: 9 digits after country code (e.g., +971 50 XXX XXXX)
• Mobile Operator Prefixes:
  • 050, 054, 056: e& (formerly Etisalat)
  • 052, 055, 058: du (Emirates Integrated Telecommunications)
• Fixed-Line Area Codes:
  • 02: Abu Dhabi and Al Ain
  • 04: Dubai
  • 06: Sharjah, Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain
  • 07: Ras Al Khaimah
  • 09: Fujairah

3. Kuwait — Country Code: +965

Kuwait utilizes an 8-digit numbering plan across all mobile networks and fixed landlines.

• International Dial Code: +965
• Standard Format: +965 XXXX XXXX (8 digits total)
• Mobile Number Allocations:
  • 9XXXXXXX: Zain Kuwait
  • 6XXXXXXX: Ooredoo Kuwait
  • 5XXXXXXX: stc Kuwait
• Landline Numbers: Begin primarily with digit 2 (e.g., 2XXXXXXX).

4. Oman — Country Code: +968

The Sultanate of Oman uses an 8-digit telephone system overseen by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).

• International Dial Code: +968
• Mobile Format: +968 9XXX XXXX or +968 7XXX XXXX (8 digits)
• Mobile Providers: Omantel, Ooredoo Oman, and Vodafone Oman utilize prefixes starting with 9 and 7.
• Landline Numbers: Landlines across Muscat and regional governorates typically start with digit 2 (e.g., 24XXXXXX in Muscat).

5. Qatar — Country Code: +974

Qatar upgraded to an 8-digit numbering format to support national infrastructure growth.

• International Dial Code: +974
• Mobile Format: 8 digits, typically starting with 3, 5, 6, or 7 (allocated between Ooredoo Qatar and Vodafone Qatar).
• Landline Numbers: Fixed landlines and commercial entities start with digit 4 (e.g., 44XX XXXX in Doha).

6. Bahrain — Country Code: +973

The Kingdom of Bahrain features an 8-digit unified dialing plan.

• International Dial Code: +973
• Mobile Format: +973 3XXX XXXX or +973 6XXX XXXX (served by Batelco, Zain Bahrain, and stc Bahrain).
• Landlines: Fixed telephone connections begin with 17 (e.g., 17XX XXXX).

How to Search Any Gulf Number on Number LookUp

When searching for a caller on Number LookUp, our intelligent search input automatically detects country codes. Simply select the country flag (e.g., Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, UAE 🇦🇪, Kuwait 🇰🇼) and type the number without the leading zero. Our database scans over 100 million records to reveal caller identity and spam status instantly.

Need to block unwanted calls from specific prefixes? Read our tutorial on how to block spam calls on Android and iPhone or learn more about protecting yourself in our Gulf phone scams prevention guide.