Kuwait Phone Number Directory: Zain, Ooredoo, stc & CITRA Regulations
The State of Kuwait features a streamlined, high-speed telecommunications market with a unified 8-digit numbering plan. Overseen by the Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA), Kuwait's telecom sector is known for high customer mobility, extensive 5G coverage, and distinct operator prefix allocations.
In this guide, we provide a complete reference to Kuwait's international dialing codes, mobile network ranges across Zain Kuwait, Ooredoo Kuwait, and stc Kuwait, fixed landlines, and consumer fraud protection advice.
1. Kuwait Numbering Structure & Dialing Codes
- International Country Code:
+965 - Total Digit Length: Exactly 8 digits (excluding international prefix)
- International Dialing Format:
+965 XXXX XXXX - National Trunk Prefix: None (Kuwait does not use a leading zero for domestic calls)
2. Mobile Network Operator Prefix Allocations
Kuwait's mobile phone numbers are categorized by their leading initial digit:
| Operator / Network | Initial Digit / Prefix | Number Length | Customer Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zain Kuwait | Starts with 9 (e.g. 9XXXXXXX) |
8 digits | 107 |
| Ooredoo Kuwait | Starts with 6 (e.g. 6XXXXXXX) |
8 digits | 121 |
| stc Kuwait (formerly VIVA) | Starts with 5 (e.g. 5XXXXXXX) |
8 digits | 102 |
Mobile Number Portability in Kuwait: CITRA enforces MNP across all three operators. Therefore, while a number starting with 9 was originally issued by Zain, the subscriber may have ported to stc or Ooredoo while keeping their original 8-digit number.
3. Fixed Landlines & Government Numbers
Kuwait's fixed-line telephone infrastructure is operated by the Ministry of Communications (MoC) and starts with digit 2:
- Commercial & Residential Landlines:
2XXXXXXX(8 digits). Example: Kuwait City, Hawalli, Salmiya, Farwaniya. - Government Emergency Services:
112(Unified Emergency Hotline). - Public Information:
101(National directory inquiry).
4. Protecting Yourself Against Phone Scams in Kuwait
Residents in Kuwait are frequently targeted by social engineering scams impersonating government institutions (such as the Ministry of Interior or Public Authority for Civil Information - PACI) or local banks:
- Never disclose PACI Sahel OTPs: The government Sahel (سهل) unified platform will never call you to request confirmation codes.
- Verify Unknown Callers: If you receive an unsolicited call from a Kuwaiti mobile number, look it up on Number LookUp to check community reports and spam risk flags.
- Cybercrime Reporting: Report suspected fraud or harassment to the Kuwait Ministry of Interior Cybercrime Department at +965 2566 0142 or WhatsApp hotline +965 9728 0392.
To delist your Kuwaiti phone number from public lookup results permanently, visit our Remove My Number service.