Area Code 23 – Dhofar & Al Wusta

The +968 23 prefix is a geographic telephone code assigned to the Dhofar and Al Wusta governorates in the Sultanate of Oman. This region encompasses the country's southern and central territories, with the city of Salalah serving as the administrative and economic hub of Dhofar. The prefix covers a wide range of communities, including Salalah, Taqah, Mirbat, Thumrait, and the coastal towns along the Arabian Sea, as well as the sparsely populated but strategically important Al Wusta governorate, which lies between Dhofar and the capital area.

Numbers beginning with +968 23 are used for fixed-line telephone services, including residential, business, and government lines. They are also assigned to public services such as hospitals, schools, and local authorities within these governorates. Because this is a geographic prefix, the number itself provides a clear indication of the caller's or callee's physical location, which is useful for businesses that want to establish a local presence in the south of Oman.

Dialing Rules and Examples

When calling a number with the 23 prefix from within Oman, you must dial the full eight-digit number, which includes the prefix. For example, to reach a landline in Salalah, you would dial 23 XXXXXX (where XXXXXX is the six-digit subscriber number). No trunk prefix (like '0') is used in Oman for domestic calls; you simply dial the eight-digit number.

From outside Oman, you need to dial the international access code of your country (e.g., 00 from most European countries, 011 from the United States), followed by Oman's country code +968, and then the eight-digit number. For instance, to call a business in Taqah from abroad, you would dial +968 23 XXXXXX.

It is important to note that mobile numbers in Oman do not use the 23 prefix; they have their own dedicated prefixes (such as 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, and 99). Therefore, if you are dialing a number that starts with 23, you are definitely reaching a fixed line in the Dhofar or Al Wusta region.

When dialing internationally, ensure you omit any leading '0' that might appear in local listings. For example, if a local number is listed as 23 123456, you would dial +968 23123456 from abroad. Always verify the number of digits: the complete national significant number is eight digits, starting with 23.

For businesses or individuals planning to contact government offices, hotels, or commercial entities in Salalah or the surrounding areas, using the +968 23 prefix ensures you are reaching the correct geographic destination. This prefix is also used for fax lines and some internet services, though the latter are increasingly moving to fiber-optic connections that may not be tied to a specific geographic code.