What is Al Khobar?
Al Khobar is a vibrant and modern city located on the Persian Gulf in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. It is one of the six major cities of the country, located between Dammam and Dhahran. It has a high population of expats and a unique blend of Saudi and Emirati culture, making it a very attractive place to live and work. Al Khobar is known for its wide array of restaurants, cafes and other attractions. It boasts some of the best shopping venues in the country and is home to major oil and gas companies such as ARAMCO and SABIC.
How to Reach Al Khobar
Traveling to Al Khobar is easy with numerous international flights arriving daily at the King Fahd International Airport. The airport lies within easy driving distance of the city centre and is serviced by car hire companies, as well as the Saudi railway. There are also direct bus services from the airport to Al Khobar. The city is also well connected to the rest of the country with a modern highway system.
How to Call Al Khobar
Calling Al Khobar is easy and much depends on where you’re calling from. All international calls to Al Khobar use Saudi Arabia’s country code, which is +966. This is followed by the area code (or city code) for Al Khobar, which is 03. After this, you will have to enter the seven-digit local phone number you’re calling.
When calling from within Saudi Arabia, the area code and local phone number are used. This means that to dial a phone number in Al Khobar from another location in the country, dial 03 followed by the seven-digit local phone number.
Usage Charges and Rates
A variety of international and local providers offer calling services to Al Khobar. Usage charges vary depending on the route of the call. Generally, international calling rates to the city are much higher than local calling rates. To ensure a better deal, it is advisable to compare the rates offered by different service providers.
Cellphone Carriers in Al Khobar
Major cellphone carriers that operate in Al Khobar include STC, Mobily, Zain, LLYD, Friendi Mobile and Virgin Mobile. Most of these provide prepaid and postpaid services and offer a variety of plans. These carriers supply modern smartphones such as the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy.
Internet Connectivity
The city of Al Khobar is connected to the internet via a variety of broadband providers such as Zain and STC. The city also has modern 4G LTE networks, which provide high-speed internet access.
Call Forwarding
Call forwarding is a convenient way to make sure that calls to your landline in Al Khobar are not missed. This service is offered by many carriers and allows you to have incoming calls to your landline redirected to another phone number. This can be particularly useful if you are expecting important calls but are unable to answer the phone.
Phone Card Services
Many international phone cards can be used in Al Khobar. These are prepaid cards that allow you to make international calls with lower call rates than standard international rates. These cards are widely available and can be bought at kiosks, petrol stations and supermarkets.
Internet Calling
Internet calling is becoming increasingly popular in Al Khobar. VoIP services such as Skype and Viber are widely used in the city, allowing people to make free or low-cost calls over the internet.
What to remember
It’s important to note that local time in Al Khobar is three hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. It’s also important to bear in mind that calling rates and other details may vary between providers. It is therefore advisable to do some research and compare different packages before making a call.
