Area Code 653 – Al Baidha

Overview of Area Code 653 (Al Baidha, Yemen)

Area code 653 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Al Baidha Governorate in the Republic of Yemen. Within the framework of the national numbering plan, which adheres to ITU-T E.164 recommendations, this code is used to route calls to fixed-line subscribers within the governorate. Al Baidha is located in the central highlands of Yemen, and its administrative capital is the city of Al Baidha. The code serves both urban and rural communities, including the districts of Mukayras, Wald Rabi', and As Sawma'ah, among others.

Dialing Formats and Usage

To call a fixed-line number in Al Baidha from within Yemen, subscribers must dial the trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code 653, and then the subscriber's local number. The local number typically consists of 6 to 7 digits, depending on the specific exchange and the operator's allocation. The complete national dialing format is: 0 653 XXX XXX (or 0 653 XXXX XXX for longer local numbers).

For international callers, the country calling code for Yemen is +967. Therefore, to reach a number in Al Baidha from abroad, one must dial the international access prefix (e.g., 00 or +), followed by Yemen's country code, the area code without the leading trunk prefix, and the local subscriber number. The international format is: +967 653 XXX XXX.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

Al Baidha Governorate is situated in the south-central part of Yemen, bordered by Marib to the north, Shabwah to the east, Abyan to the south, and Ibb and Dhamar to the west. The area code 653 is exclusively used for fixed-line services, including PSTN and some fixed wireless terminals. It is not used for mobile services; mobile numbers in Yemen are non-geographic and begin with 7 (e.g., 73, 77, 78) or 70 for certain operators.

Caller Instructions

Local callers (within Yemen): Dial 0 653 [local number]. For example, if the local number is 123456, dial 0653123456.

International callers: Dial your country's exit code (e.g., 00, 011), then 967, then 653, then the local number. For example, from the US, dial 011 967 653 123456.

Overlay considerations: As of the latest numbering plan updates, there is no overlay code for Al Baidha; 653 remains the sole area code for the governorate. However, due to network expansions, some subscribers may have 7-digit local numbers, so always confirm the correct number of digits with the called party.

For accurate billing and routing, ensure that you include the area code even when calling from a mobile phone within Yemen, as mobile operators require full national numbering.