Understanding Phone Numbers in Kuwait

Overview of Kuwait's Telecom System

• Country: Kuwait
• Country Code: +965
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: None
• Regulatory Authority: Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA)

Kuwait's telephone numbering system adheres to the E.164 standard, featuring an eight-digit format without area codes. This guide details the structure, dialing procedures, and technical considerations for telecom professionals and developers.

Phone Number Formats in Kuwait

General Structure

Kuwait's phone numbers use an 8-digit format, differing slightly by service type:

Validating Phone Numbers

Use these regular expressions for validation:

• Landline: ^2[0-9]{7}$
• Mobile: ^[569][0-9]{7}$
• Corporate: ^18[0-9]{5}$
• Toll-Free: ^180[0-9]{5}$
• Emergency: ^1[0-9]{2}$

Example Validation Function

function validateKuwaitPhoneNumber(number) {
  const landlineRegex = /^2[0-9]{7}$/;
  const mobileRegex = /^[569][0-9]{7}$/;
  const corporateRegex = /^18[0-9]{5}$/;
  const tollFreeRegex = /^180[0-9]{5}$/;
  const emergencyRegex = /^1[0-9]{2}$/;

  return (
    landlineRegex.test(number) ||
    mobileRegex.test(number) ||
    corporateRegex.test(number) ||
    tollFreeRegex.test(number) ||
    emergencyRegex.test(number)
  );
}

Dialing Procedures in Kuwait

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial the 8-digit number directly.
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the 8-digit mobile number directly.
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the 8-digit mobile number directly.

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00, followed by the country code and number.
• Incoming: Dial +965, followed by the 8-digit local number.

Special Services

• Emergency: Dial 112 for emergency services.
• Toll-Free: Dial the 7-digit number starting with 180.

Recent Updates and Number Portability

• August 2023: CITRA introduced a new hotline +965 159 for citizens abroad.
• Mobile Number Portability (MNP): Available since June 2013, allowing users to switch providers without changing numbers.

Major Telecom Operators

Technical Considerations for Developers

• Validation: Configure systems to validate numbers using the provided regex.
• Portability: Implement logic for MNP when routing calls/messages.
• Internationalization: Store numbers in E.164 format for global operations.

Conclusion

Kuwait's numbering system is designed for a growing telecom market, ensuring efficient communication. Compliance with CITRA and ITU-T standards is crucial for telecom professionals and developers to maintain reliable operations.