Area Code 5356 – Fès

Overview of Area Code 5356

Area code 5356 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the city of Fès (Fez), Morocco's second-largest metropolitan area and a major cultural, historical, and economic hub. The code is part of the national numbering plan administered by the Agence Nationale de Réglementation des Télécommunications (ANRT) under the ITU-T E.164 standard. When dialing a fixed-line number in Fès from abroad, the full international format is +212 5356 XXX XXX, where the leading '0' of the national trunk prefix is omitted.

Geographic Coverage and Jurisdiction

The 5356 code serves the Fès-Meknès administrative region, primarily covering the urban and suburban areas of Fès, including the historic medina (Fes el-Bali), Fes el-Jdid, and the modern Ville Nouvelle districts. It also extends to nearby towns and rural communities within the prefecture, such as Sefrou and Moulay Yacoub, which rely on the same NDC for fixed-line connectivity. The code is allocated exclusively to fixed-line PSTN services, although some VoIP providers may route calls through it for geographic number presentation.

Dialing Formats and Instructions

• Local calls (within Fès): Dial the 9-digit subscriber number directly, e.g., 5356 123 456.
• National long-distance calls (from other Moroccan cities): Dial the trunk prefix 0 followed by the NDC and subscriber number, e.g., 0 5356 123 456.
• International calls from abroad: Dial the international access prefix (e.g., 00 from most countries), then Morocco's country code 212, followed by the NDC without the leading '0' and the subscriber number: +212 5356 123 456.

Callers from foreign countries must replace the initial '0' with the country code and international prefix. For example, a caller in France would dial 00 212 5356 123 456, while a caller in the United States would dial 011 212 5356 123 456.

Numbering and Overlay Considerations

Moroccan fixed-line numbers are 9 digits long, including the NDC. The 5356 code is part of a numbering range that may have overlays or adjacent codes (e.g., 5357) to accommodate growing demand. However, as of the latest ANRT updates, 5356 remains the primary code for Fès, and no overlay is currently active. Subscribers retain their numbers when switching operators, thanks to number portability, but the geographic significance of the code remains unchanged.

Practical Tips for Callers

When calling a Fès fixed-line number, ensure you have the correct 9-digit number. If you are unsure whether a number is fixed or mobile, note that Moroccan mobile numbers typically begin with 06 or 07 (national format) and are non-geographic. For business or personal calls, always verify the full number with the recipient to avoid misdialing. International callers should check with their service provider for applicable rates to Morocco.