Area Code 280 – Aden

Overview of Yemen Area Code 280

Area code 280 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the city of Aden, the former capital and principal commercial hub of Yemen. Aden is located on the Gulf of Aden and serves as the country's main port and economic center. The code is part of Yemen's national numbering plan, which follows the ITU-T E.164 standard. When dialing from abroad, the full international format is +967 2 80X XXXX (where X represents the subscriber's local number digits).

Geographic Coverage and Administration

The 280 prefix covers the Aden Governorate, including the districts of Crater, Mualla, Tawahi, Khormaksar, and Dar Sad. As a geographic code, it is tied to the PSTN infrastructure of the region, operated primarily by the state-owned incumbent, Yemen Public Telecommunications Corporation (PTC), as well as licensed private operators providing fixed-line services. The code is used for both residential and business landlines.

Dialing Formats

Understanding the correct dialing sequence is crucial for successful call completion:

• Local calls (within Aden): Dial the 8-digit subscriber number directly, e.g., 280 1234 (if the local number is 7 digits, the format may be 280 123 45).
• National calls (from other Yemeni cities): Dial 0 2 80X XXXX (trunk prefix 0, then area code 2, then the subscriber number). For example, from Sana'a to Aden: 0 2 280 1234.
• International calls (from outside Yemen): Dial your country's exit code, then 967 (Yemen country code), then 2 (the NDC for Aden), then the subscriber number. Example from the US: 011 967 2 280 1234.

Note that the area code for Aden is often listed as 2 in international references, with the full NDC being 2 followed by the first digit of the local number. The prefix 280 is part of this structure, where the initial '2' indicates the geographic region and '80' is the central office code. Therefore, when dialing from abroad, you must include the '2' after the country code, as shown above.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Yemen has not implemented overlay codes for Aden; the area code 2 is exclusive to the region. However, due to the expansion of mobile and VoIP services, some numbers with the 280 prefix may be routed over IP networks, but they remain geographically associated with Aden for regulatory and emergency service purposes. Callers should be aware that the number of digits in the local subscriber portion may vary (typically 6 to 7 digits), so always confirm the exact number with the recipient.

Caller Instructions

For local callers within Yemen, always use the trunk prefix 0 when dialing a landline from a mobile phone or from another region. For international callers, ensure you have the correct exit code for your country (e.g., 00 in most European countries, 011 in the US/Canada). If you encounter difficulties, check whether the number is still active, as some fixed lines may have been migrated to mobile services.