Area Code 44 – West Azarbaijan

Overview of Area Code +98 44

Area code 44 is the National Destination Code (NDC) for the province of West Azarbaijan in the Islamic Republic of Iran. When dialed internationally, the full country calling code sequence is +98 44, followed by the local subscriber number. This code is part of the Iranian national numbering plan, which adheres to ITU-T E.164 recommendations.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

West Azarbaijan is one of the 31 provinces of Iran, located in the northwestern part of the country, bordering Turkey, Iraq, and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. The provincial capital is Urmia (also spelled Orumiyeh), which is the largest city in the province. Other major cities and administrative centers served by this area code include Khoy, Mahabad, Miandoab, Salmas, Piranshahr, and Nagadeh. The code covers both urban and rural landline subscribers within the province's boundaries.

Dialing Formats and Number Structure

Within Iran, calls to West Azarbaijan landlines are made by dialing 0 44 followed by the local subscriber number. The local subscriber number typically consists of 8 digits, making the total national significant number (NSN) length 10 digits (excluding the trunk prefix 0). For example, a typical local number in Urmia might be 044 3 123 4567 (the exact grouping may vary).

For international callers, the format is +98 44 followed by the 8-digit subscriber number, omitting the leading trunk prefix. For instance, if the national number is 044 3 123 4567, the international format would be +98 443 123 4567.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Currently, there is no overlay code for West Azarbaijan; the area code 44 is exclusively assigned to this province. All landline numbers within the province share the same area code, and local calls within the province do not require the area code if dialed from a landline within the same local calling area. However, for clarity and due to mobile phone usage, it is recommended to always include the area code when dialing from a mobile phone or from outside the local area.

Caller Instructions

• Local callers (within West Azarbaijan): Dial the 8-digit subscriber number directly (without the area code) for calls within the same city. For calls to other cities within the province, dial 044 followed by the subscriber number.
• National callers (from other provinces in Iran): Dial 0 44 followed by the 8-digit subscriber number.
• International callers: Dial your country's international access prefix (e.g., 00, 011), then 98 (Iran's country code), then 44, and finally the 8-digit subscriber number. Do not dial the trunk prefix '0'.

This area code is used exclusively for fixed-line (PSTN) services. Mobile numbers in Iran are assigned separate non-geographic prefixes (e.g., 091x) and are not affected by this geographic area code.