How Do You Get a US Phone Number in Saudi Arabia? (2026 Guide)

Saudi Arabia has deep ties with the US: students on scholarships, companies with US partners, families with relatives in Houston or Washington, and a fast-growing group of freelancers. Sooner or later, many of them need a US phone number that Americans can call easily.

You don't need to live in the US or carry a US SIM card. This guide shows how to get a US number from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam or anywhere in the Kingdom, what it costs, and what to watch out for.

Why people in Saudi Arabia get a US number

• Business with US companies. A US number on your website and invoices is easy for American partners to call.
• Students heading to the US. Universities, landlords and banks often ask for a US number. See our guide for international students.
• Family in the US. Relatives can call you on a local US number, without international rates.
• Calling the US and Canada. You get 300 minutes a month of calls to US and Canadian numbers included.

Does internet calling work in Saudi Arabia?

In the past, Saudi Arabia restricted voice calls in many internet apps. Restrictions have since eased, and calling apps are widely used today, but this can still vary by app and network. We can't promise every network will carry every app call. If your mobile data has trouble, try Wi-Fi, and the other way round. You are responsible for following local rules on internet calling. For travellers, our Saudi calling guide explains the details.

Paying from Saudi Arabia

You pay $100 once a year by card. Many mada cards are co-branded with Visa or Mastercard and work for online payments, but not every card does. If yours is refused, try a credit card. The price is in US dollars. The riyal is pegged to the dollar, so the amount stays steady, but your bank may add a foreign-currency fee. The plan is yearly only and renews each year unless you cancel the renewal.

Time zones: Saudi Arabia and the US

Saudi Arabia is on UTC+3 all year:

A 10 a.m. meeting in New York is 5 p.m. in Riyadh in summer and 6 p.m. in winter. Calls that come in while you sleep go to voicemail, and you get a missed-call alert in the app.

How to get your US number in Saudi Arabia

1. Install the TripoSIM app: on iPhone or Android. Follow our app install guide.
2. Choose a US number: on the US Number page, search by state or area code. We hold your number for 30 minutes while you pay.
3. Pay $100 for the year: by card, paid upfront.
4. Sign in and open the Phone tab: use the same account you paid with.
5. Allow notifications and the microphone: so calls can ring and people can hear you.
6. Make a test call: call a friend in the US or Canada, and ask them to call you back.

What's included

Your minutes reset each month on the day you bought the number. Unused minutes don't carry over.

Three lines on one phone

Your US number doesn't replace anything. It simply adds a line:

1. Your Saudi SIM (for example STC, Mobily or Zain) stays your main number for local calls, Absher and bank texts.
2. Data from any source: your Saudi line, home Wi-Fi, or any data eSIM or local SIM when you travel. A TripoSIM travel eSIM is a good option on trips, but any connection works.
3. Your TripoSIM US number in the app.

No second phone, no special phone company.

Travelling? Receive US calls with no roaming charges

On a trip to Europe, Asia or the US itself, incoming calls to your US number are included in your plan and come in over Wi-Fi or mobile data. You don't pay roaming charges to receive them (fair use up to 300 minutes a month, internet needed). Planning a US trip? Read the eSIM + US number kit for your USA trip.

Good to know

• No 911 or emergency calls. The app can't reach any emergency service. In Saudi Arabia, call the emergency number 911 from a normal mobile line, never from the app.
• Verification codes: banks vary. WhatsApp and popular apps such as Google, Apple ID, PayPal and Upwork sent their codes to our US numbers in our tests (Oct 2026). Some banks may still refuse internet numbers, so check with your bank. Read will a virtual US number work for verification codes?
• Calls go to the US and Canada only. For calls to Saudi numbers or other countries, use your Saudi line or another app.
• No sending texts. You can receive texts, not send them.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy a US number while living in Saudi Arabia?

Yes. The TripoSIM US Number is sold in any country except sanctioned ones. You don't need a US address.

Do I need an STC, Mobily or Zain plan?

No particular plan. You need internet: Wi-Fi or mobile data from any provider.

Can I pay with mada?

Possibly, if your mada card is co-branded with Visa or Mastercard and allows online payments. Otherwise, use a credit card.

What does it cost my family in the US to call me?

For them it's a normal call to a US number, so it costs what their own plan charges for calls within the US. For you, incoming calls are included in your plan.

Can I use it for verification codes?

Yes, for many services. WhatsApp and popular apps such as Google, Apple ID, Amazon and PayPal sent their codes to our US numbers in our tests (Oct 2026). Some banks may still refuse internet numbers, so check with your bank.

The bottom line

From Saudi Arabia, a US number in an app is a simple way to be reachable by US clients, schools and family, and to call the US and Canada. Choose your US number by state or area code, and keep your Saudi SIM for local life. Comparing options first? Read virtual US number vs Google Voice vs Hushed.