Area Code 52 – Shabwah

Geographic Overview

The +967 52 country and area code combination is assigned to the Shabwah Governorate, a large administrative division in eastern Yemen. Shabwah is strategically positioned between the oil-rich Marib Governorate to the north and the Arabian Sea coast to the south. Its capital, Ataq, serves as the primary urban center and the main hub for government, commerce, and telecommunications in the region. Other notable towns within this numbering area include Habban, Bayhan, and Usaylan.

Dialing Formats

When calling a landline in Shabwah from abroad, you must use the international format: +967 52 XXX XXX (or +96752XXXXXXX when dialed as a continuous string). The national significant number (NSN) for Yemen is eight digits, with the '52' prefix acting as the National Destination Code (NDC). Thus, a complete domestic number is 52 XXX XXX.

For callers within Yemen, the trunk prefix '0' is used before the area code. Therefore, a domestic call to Shabwah would be dialed as 0 52 XXX XXX. This format applies to both fixed-line and VoIP services that use geographic numbering.

Jurisdictional and Administrative Notes

The Shabwah numbering area falls under the regulatory authority of the Public Telecommunication Corporation (PTC) of Yemen, which manages fixed-line infrastructure. As with other geographic codes in Yemen, the '52' prefix is allocated to the Shabwah Governorate and is not portable outside that region. The code is used for traditional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) services and is also adopted by some wireless local loop operators.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Currently, there is no overlay code for Shabwah; the '52' prefix is the sole geographic code for the governorate. However, due to the ongoing conflict and infrastructure challenges, some areas may experience service disruptions. It is advisable to verify the current status of the number with your telecom provider if you encounter connectivity issues.

Caller Instructions

• International callers: Dial your country's exit code (e.g., 00 from most countries, 011 from North America), then Yemen's country code 967, followed by 52 and the local 6-digit subscriber number. Example: 011 967 52 123456.
• Domestic callers (within Yemen): Dial 0 then 52 and the 6-digit number. Example: 0 52 123456.

When saving Yemeni numbers in your phone's contact list, always store them in international format (starting with +967) to ensure proper dialing from any location.