What is the country code for Saudi Arabia?

The country code for Saudi Arabia is +966. When calling from Egypt, dial 00 966 followed by the 9-digit local number (without the leading 0).

What is Egypt's international exit code?

Egypt's international exit code is 00. On a mobile phone, you can also use the + symbol (press and hold 0). Both work the same way when dialing Saudi Arabia.

How do I call a Saudi mobile number from Egypt?

Dial 00 966, then the 9-digit mobile number starting with 5 (e.g., 00 966 55 123 4567). Remember to drop the leading 0 that appears in the local Saudi format (05X becomes 5X).

How do I call a Saudi landline from Egypt?

Dial 00 966, then the 2-digit area code (e.g., 11 for Riyadh, 12 for Jeddah), then the 7-digit subscriber number. For example: 00 966 11 234 5678 for a Riyadh landline.

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

Sayfone offers calls to Saudi Arabia at $0.28 per minute. You can call directly from your browser with no connection fees or hidden charges.

What is the time difference between Egypt and Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia (UTC+3) is 1 hour ahead of Egypt (UTC+2). For example, when it's 8:00 PM in Cairo, it's 9:00 PM in Riyadh. This small difference makes scheduling calls between the two countries easy.

Do I need to dial the area code for Saudi mobile numbers?

No. Saudi mobile numbers do not use area codes. After the +966 country code, you dial the 9-digit number starting with 5 directly. Area codes are only used for landlines.

Why isn't my call to Saudi Arabia connecting from Egypt?

The most common reason is forgetting to drop the leading 0 from the Saudi number. Dial 00 966 5X XXX XXXX (not 00 966 05X XXX XXXX). Also verify you're using 00 or + as the exit code and that the number is correct.

Is Saudi Arabia's work week different from Egypt's?

Yes. Saudi Arabia's work week is Sunday through Thursday, with Friday and Saturday as the weekend. Egypt's work week is Sunday through Thursday for government offices, though some private sector companies work Saturday through Thursday. Plan business calls accordingly.

Quick Answer

How to Call Saudi Arabia from Egypt

To call Saudi Arabia from Egypt, dial 00 + 966 + the local number (drop the leading 0). For mobile numbers, that's 00 966 5X XXX XXXX. For landlines, it's 00 966 + area code + 7-digit number (e.g., 00 966 11 XXX XXXX for Riyadh). Sayfone connects you at $0.28/min with clear call quality.

Call Saudi Arabia Now

Cost tools

🇪🇬From Egypt

To Saudi Arabia🇸🇦

$0.44

Per minute

+966

Country code

Call quality

Landline rate

$0.44/min

Mobile rate

$0.44/min

Same per-minute Sayfone rate for landline and mobile.

Average call quality

Over 1.4 million Egyptians live in Saudi Arabia, making this one of the most important calling corridors in the region. Whether you're coordinating remittances or catching up with family, getting the dialing sequence right ensures you connect every time.

Steps at a glance

Dial 00 — Egypt's international exit code
Dial 966 — Saudi Arabia's country code
Drop the leading 0 from the Saudi number
Dial the full 9-digit local number (mobile or landline)

Sources

1
Telephone numbers in Saudi Arabia — Wikipedia
Country code and numbering plan reference
2
ITU Numbering Plan for Saudi Arabia (+966)
Official ITU numbering plan document

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

How to Dial Saudi Arabia from Egypt

Follow these steps to place a call from Egypt to any Saudi Arabian mobile or landline number. The process is the same from any Egyptian phone — mobile, landline, or browser-based service like Sayfone.

1
Dial Egypt's exit code
Start by dialing 00, which is Egypt's international access code. On a mobile phone, you can also press and hold the 0 key to produce the + symbol, which works universally.
```
00 or +
```
2
Dial Saudi Arabia's country code
Next, enter 966 — the international country code for Saudi Arabia. This routes your call from Egypt's network to Saudi Arabia's telephone system.
```
00 966
```
3
Drop the leading 0 from the Saudi number
Saudi numbers in local format start with 0 (e.g., 05X for mobile, 011 for Riyadh landline). When calling internationally, always remove this leading 0. The country code +966 replaces it.
```
05X XXX XXXX → 5X XXX XXXX
```
4
Dial the 9-digit local number
Enter the remaining 9 digits of the Saudi number. For mobiles, this starts with 5 (e.g., 50, 53, 55, 56). For landlines, this starts with the 2-digit area code (e.g., 11 for Riyadh, 12 for Jeddah, 13 for Dammam).
```
Mobile: 00 966 55 123 4567 | Landline (Riyadh): 00 966 11 234 5678
```
Press call
That's it — your call will connect through to Saudi Arabia. The total number of digits you dial is 00 + 966 + 9 digits = 14 digits. With Sayfone, you can place this call directly from your browser at $0.28/min.

Dialing format reference

+966

Use these patterns when entering a full international number to +966.

Mobile

+966 5X XXX XXXX

Landline

+966 1X XXX XXXX

00 966 55 123 4567 (Mobile — STC)
00 966 11 234 5678 (Landline — Riyadh)
00 966 12 345 6789 (Landline — Jeddah)

Major city area codes

Riyadh11

Jeddah / Makkah12

Dammam / Eastern Province13

Al-Madinah / Tabuk14

Al-Qassim / Hail16

Asir / Jizan / Najran17

Sources

1
Telephone numbers in Saudi Arabia — Wikipedia
Country code, area codes, and mobile prefix reference
2
ITU Numbering Plan for Egypt (+20)
Official ITU document confirming Egypt's international prefix is 00
3
Saudi Arabia Phone Number Format — CallHippo
Detailed breakdown of mobile and landline formats

IMPORTANT DETAILS

Dialing Rules for Egypt to Saudi Arabia Calls

Key rules and common pitfalls to know before dialing Saudi Arabia from Egypt. Getting these right avoids failed calls and saves time.

Always drop the leading 0

Saudi numbers written in local format include a leading 0 (e.g., 055 for mobile, 011 for Riyadh). When dialing from Egypt, always remove this 0. The +966 country code replaces it. Dialing 00 966 055... will not connect.

Egypt's exit code is 00

From any Egyptian phone — whether it's a Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat, or WE line — the international exit code is 00. On mobile phones, you can use the + symbol instead, which works identically.

Saudi mobile numbers always start with 5

After the +966 country code, all Saudi mobile numbers begin with the digit 5 (e.g., 50, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59). These digits indicate the mobile carrier, though number portability means the prefix may not reflect the current operator.

Saudi landline area codes are 2 digits

Landline numbers use city-specific area codes: 11 (Riyadh), 12 (Jeddah/Makkah), 13 (Dammam/Eastern Province), 14 (Madinah/Tabuk), 16 (Qassim), 17 (Southern regions). After the area code, there are 7 subscriber digits.

Total international number length is 12–13 digits

A complete international call from Egypt dials: 00 (2 digits) + 966 (3 digits) + 9-digit local number = 14 digits total. If the call does not connect, double-check that you have exactly 9 digits after 966.

TIMING & TIPS

Best Times to Call Saudi Arabia from Egypt

Saudi Arabia (AST, UTC+3) is just 1 hour ahead of Egypt (EET, UTC+2). This small time difference makes scheduling calls straightforward — most of your day overlaps with Saudi business and personal hours.

🇸🇦

For the over 1.4 million Egyptians living in Saudi Arabia, weekly family calls are a lifeline. Timing your calls right means you're more likely to reach someone when they're free and in a good position to talk.

Time & windows

Egypt Time (EET)

UTC+2

Cairo, Alexandria

Saudi Time (AST)

UTC+3

Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam

Time Difference

+1 hour

Saudi Arabia is 1 hour ahead of Egypt

🇪🇬Best for personal calls

7:00 PM – 10:00 PM Egypt (8:00 PM – 11:00 PM Saudi)After work hours on both sides. Ideal for family check-ins.

🇪🇬Best for business calls

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Egypt (10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saudi)Saudi business hours are Sunday–Thursday. Note that Friday and Saturday are the Saudi weekend.

🇪🇬Avoid calling

12:00 AM – 6:00 AM Egypt (1:00 AM – 7:00 AM Saudi)Late night / early morning in Saudi Arabia.

Calling tips

Saudi Arabia's work week runs Sunday through Thursday. Avoid business calls on Friday and Saturday (the Saudi weekend).
Egypt and Saudi Arabia share Arabic as the primary language — no language barrier to worry about.
If you call regularly (weekly or more), consider using Sayfone's browser-based calling at $0.28/min for consistent, predictable costs.
Save Saudi contacts in +966 format in your phone to avoid dialing mistakes when calling back.

Business etiquette

Greet with 'As-salamu alaykum' — it's universally appreciated in Saudi business and personal calls.
Saudi business culture values relationship-building. Allow time for personal pleasantries before discussing business matters.
During Ramadan, be mindful that working hours in Saudi Arabia are often shorter. Adjust your calling window accordingly.
For formal business, calling during Saudi morning hours (10 AM–12 PM AST) is generally most effective.

Sources

1
Saudi Arabia Phone Number Format — CallHippo
Confirms Saudi Arabia operates on AST (UTC+3) year-round

TROUBLESHOOTING

Common Issues When Calling Saudi Arabia from Egypt

If your call to Saudi Arabia isn't connecting, the issue is usually a small dialing error. Here are the most common problems and how to fix them.

Forgot to drop the leading 0

The most common mistake. Saudi numbers in local format start with 0 (e.g., 055, 011). When calling from Egypt, always remove this 0. Dial 00 966 55... not 00 966 055...

Used the wrong exit code

Egypt's international exit code is 00. If you accidentally dial a different prefix, the call won't route internationally. On mobile phones, the + symbol works as a universal alternative.

Dialed the wrong country code

Saudi Arabia's country code is 966. Double-check you haven't confused it with another country code. If your call connects to an unexpected destination, verify the 966 code.

Number is not in service or is incorrect

If you hear an 'unobtainable' or 'not in service' message, confirm the number with your contact. Saudi mobile numbers are 9 digits after the country code (5X XXX XXXX). Landlines are also 9 digits (1X XXX XXXX).

Temporary network congestion

Occasionally, international routes between Egypt and Saudi Arabia may experience congestion, especially during peak calling periods like holidays or Ramadan. Try again after a few minutes, or use a browser-based service like Sayfone which routes calls over the internet.

Sources

1
How to Call Saudi Arabia — Wise
Common troubleshooting reasons for failed international calls

Savings

See what you could save

Adjust the tools below to compare Sayfone with typical retail pricing for calls to Saudi Arabia. Start with one call, then layer on monthly volume to see the bigger picture.

How to use these tools

Sayfone uses your live rate for calls to Saudi Arabia — the same basis as the rest of this page.
First, estimate savings on a single call length. Then, model a full month of minutes versus typical retail benchmarks.
Retail competitor rows are illustrative — not a quote from any carrier.