How much does it cost to call Ethiopia from Saudi Arabia with Sayfone?

Sayfone charges 78¢/min for calls to Ethiopian landlines and mobiles. You are billed per minute with transparent pricing — no bundled packages required.

What is the country code for Ethiopia?

Ethiopia's country code is +251. When calling from Saudi Arabia, dial 00 251 followed by the 9-digit local number (dropping the leading 0). On a mobile phone, you can use +251 directly.

Is there a time difference between Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia?

No. Both Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia are in the UTC+3 time zone year-round, and neither country observes daylight saving time. When it is 7 PM in Riyadh, it is also 7 PM in Addis Ababa.

Do I need to download an app to use Sayfone?

No. Sayfone works directly in your web browser on any device — phone, tablet, or computer. There is no app to download.

Can I call Ethiopian mobile numbers with Sayfone, or only landlines?

You can call both Ethiopian mobile numbers and landlines with Sayfone at the same rate of 78¢/min.

How do I format an Ethiopian phone number for international dialing?

Ethiopian phone numbers are 9 digits long after the country code. If you have a local number like 091 234 5678, remove the leading 0 and dial +251 91 234 5678. For Addis Ababa landlines, the area code is 11 — so a number like 011 123 4567 becomes +251 11 123 4567.

What is the best time to call Ethiopia from Saudi Arabia?

Since both countries share the same time zone, evenings between 6 PM and 9 PM are ideal for reaching family at home. For business calls, standard working hours (9 AM – 5 PM) apply in both countries.

Saudi Arabia → Ethiopia

Call Ethiopia from Saudi Arabia

Stay connected with family back home in Ethiopia. Call landlines and mobiles at 78¢/min — right from your browser, no app needed.

Start Calling Ethiopia

78¢/min to Ethiopian landlines and mobiles
Browser-based — no app download required
Transparent per-minute pricing

Calculate your cost

🇸🇦From Saudi Arabia

To Ethiopia🇪🇹

$0.78

Per minute

+251

Country code

Call quality

🇸🇦

Active callers now: 274

Landline rate

$0.78/min

Mobile rate

$0.78/min

Same per-minute Sayfone rate for landline and mobile.

Average call quality

Estimate

Calculate your cost

Drag the slider to set your monthly minutes and call type for Ethiopia. The totals below estimate what that volume could cost per month at typical retail rates compared to Sayfone—so you can see the full picture before you dial.

Monthly call minutes

Drag slider to adjust

220

min / month

Call type

AT&T / Verizon$8,408

~$38.22/min

T-Mobile$6,349

~$28.86/min

Calling cards$3,775

~$17.16/min

Google Voice$858

~$3.90/min

Sayfone$172

$0.780/min

Annual saving vs. AT&T

Based on 220 min/month

$98,842

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WHY THIS ROUTE MATTERS

Why Ethiopian workers in Saudi Arabia call home

Saudi Arabia hosts one of the largest Ethiopian communities in the world. For workers separated from their families, regular phone calls are a vital lifeline.

Staying close to family across borders

An estimated 750,000 Ethiopians live and work in Saudi Arabia. Many are domestic and service workers who have left families behind. Regular phone calls help bridge the distance and maintain family bonds across the Red Sea.

An estimated 750,000 Ethiopians reside and work in Saudi Arabia (Mixed Migration Centre, 2023)
Many Ethiopian migrants are engaged in domestic and service work (The Conversation)

Coordinating remittances and finances

Saudi Arabia is one of the top remittance corridors to Ethiopia, with total flows potentially reaching hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Workers often need to call home to coordinate transfers, confirm receipt, and manage family finances.

Roughly one-fifth of all remittances to Ethiopia come from Saudi Arabia (World Bank via IFA Ethiopia)
Saudi Arabia and the US are among Ethiopia's top remittance-sending countries

A young, mobile workforce

An estimated 78% of Ethiopians who migrated abroad in recent years were aged 15–29, with nearly a third heading to Saudi Arabia. Many of these younger workers rely on affordable calling options to stay in touch with parents and communities back home.

78% of 839,000+ Ethiopian migrants were aged 15–29 (IOM Labour Force and Migration Survey 2021)
Nearly 31% of Ethiopian migrants traveled to Saudi Arabia (IOM)

TRANSPARENT PRICING

Rates for calling Ethiopia from Saudi Arabia

Sayfone offers straightforward per-minute pricing for calls to Ethiopia. See the rate below — what you see is what you pay.

Did you know?

Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia share the same time zone (UTC+3) year-round, so there is no time difference when you call. That means you can reach family during normal waking hours without calculating offsets.

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Sayfone rates to Ethiopia

Destination	Type	Rate/min
Ethiopia	Landline & Mobile	78¢/min

Rates are per minute. Transparent per-minute billing with no additional charges beyond the displayed rate.

GETTING STARTED

How to call Ethiopia with Sayfone

Calling Ethiopia from Saudi Arabia is simple with Sayfone. No app to install — just open your browser and follow these steps.

Instant access

Step 1

Open Sayfone in your browser

Visit Sayfone from any device — phone, tablet, or computer. No app download or account setup needed to get started.

Dialer

+00 000 000 00

123

Start Calling Now

Step 2

Enter the Ethiopian phone number

Type the full number including Ethiopia's country code (+251) followed by the 9-digit local number. Drop the leading 0 from the local number when dialing internationally.

HD audio from your browser

Step 3

Review the rate and place your call

Confirm the displayed rate of 78¢/min before you connect. Your call will be billed per minute with transparent pricing.

COMMON CHALLENGES

Challenges when calling Ethiopia from Saudi Arabia

International calls to Ethiopia can come with a few hurdles. Here is what to watch for and how Sayfone helps you work around them.

High carrier international rates

Traditional carrier rates for international calls from Saudi Arabia can be expensive, especially for workers who call home frequently. Sayfone offers a transparent per-minute rate so you know exactly what each call costs.

Number formatting confusion

Ethiopian phone numbers use a 10-digit local format starting with 0, but when dialing internationally you must drop the leading 0 and prefix with +251. Forgetting this step is one of the most common reasons calls fail to connect.

Network variability in parts of Ethiopia

Telecom infrastructure in rural Ethiopian regions can sometimes cause dropped calls or lower voice quality. Calling during off-peak hours or trying again after a short wait can improve your chances of a stable connection.

Limited access to calling apps

Not everyone in Ethiopia has reliable internet access for app-based calls. Sayfone connects to Ethiopian landlines and mobile numbers directly, so the person you are calling does not need a data connection or a specific app.

Estimate

Estimate savings on one call to🇪🇹Ethiopia

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Call duration12 minutes

1 min10 min20 min30 min40 min50 min1 hr

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Your call

Your call will cost

$9.36

$0.78 per minute

Sayfone$9.36$0.78 / min

Competitors$23.40$1.95 / min

Your savings$14.04$1.17 / min

That's 60% less than competitors

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TIPS & TIMING

Best times and tips for calling Ethiopia

Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia share the same time zone (UTC+3), which makes scheduling calls straightforward. Neither country observes daylight saving time, so there is never a seasonal offset to worry about.

Time & windows

Morning calls

7:00 – 9:00 AM

Same time in both countries. Good for catching family before their workday starts.

Evening calls

6:00 – 9:00 PM

Ideal for longer conversations after work. Family is typically home and available.

Weekend calls

Friday or Saturday

Friday is the weekend day in Saudi Arabia. Saturday or Sunday may work better for family in Ethiopia.

🇸🇦Best for family calls

6:00 PM – 10:00 PM (same in both countries)Evenings are when most family members are gathered at home.

🇸🇦Best for business calls

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (same in both countries)Ethiopian business hours align directly with Saudi working hours.

🇸🇦Avoid calling

After 10:00 PMLate-night calls can be disruptive, especially in rural areas where schedules start early.

Calling tips

Dial +251 followed by the 9-digit number (drop the leading 0 from the Ethiopian local number).
From a Saudi landline, dial 00 then 251 then the local number without the leading 0.
Save Ethiopian contacts in +251 format on your phone for consistent international dialing.
If a call does not connect on the first attempt, wait a moment and try again — network congestion in some Ethiopian regions can cause temporary failures.
Schedule regular calling times so family expects your call — this is especially helpful when reaching landlines in rural areas.

Business etiquette

Greet the person warmly before diving into business — personal rapport matters in Ethiopian professional culture.
If calling an office in Addis Ababa, business hours are typically Sunday through Thursday, with some offices also open on Saturday mornings.
Use formal titles when addressing someone you have not met, especially in government or institutional settings.
Speak clearly and be patient with occasional line quality variations on calls to rural offices.

Sources

1
timeanddate.com — Saudi Arabia vs Ethiopia time comparison
Both UTC+3, no DST in either country

POPULAR DESTINATIONS

Cities in Ethiopia you can call

Whether your family is in the capital or a regional city, Sayfone connects you to landlines and mobiles across Ethiopia.

Addis Ababa

Call Ethiopia from Saudi Arabia

Ethiopia's capital and largest city. Addis Ababa is the primary destination for calls from Saudi Arabia, home to many families of migrant workers. Use area code 11 after the +251 country code for Addis Ababa landlines.

Best time to call from Saudi Arabia: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (same time as Saudi Arabia)

Dire Dawa

Call Ethiopia from Saudi Arabia

A major city in eastern Ethiopia and a key origin region for migrants heading to the Gulf. Use area code 25 after +251 for Dire Dawa landlines.

Best time to call from Saudi Arabia: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (same time as Saudi Arabia)

Jimma

Call Ethiopia from Saudi Arabia

Located in southwestern Ethiopia, Jimma is an important regional hub. Use area code 47 after +251 for Jimma landlines. Mobile numbers use the standard 9-digit format regardless of city.

Best time to call from Saudi Arabia: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (same time as Saudi Arabia)

Sources