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Western Sahara country code +212 — call Western Sahara & get a number.
Western Sahara has no separate ITU country code — every number in the territory uses Morocco's +212, the same operators (Maroc Telecom, Orange Maroc, inwi), and the same numbering rules. This guide covers the Laayoune (5288) and Dakhla (5289) area codes, mobile prefixes, and how a +212 virtual number works for this UN-designated non-self-governing territory.
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Western Sahara at a glance
The numbers and facts you need before you dial.
What is the country code for Western Sahara?
Western Sahara is a non-self-governing territory under UN classification, with disputed sovereignty between Morocco (which administers roughly 80% of it) and the Polisario Front's Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Because the ITU generally assigns country codes based on UN-recognized sovereign governments, and no single recognized government has clear standing over the whole territory, no separate code has ever been assigned — Western Sahara instead uses Morocco's +212 by default of Moroccan telecom administration.
This means calling Laayoune or Dakhla is functionally identical to calling Casablanca or Rabat: the same three operators (Maroc Telecom, Orange Maroc, and inwi), the same numbering plan, and the same ANRT regulatory oversight. The territory's own ISO 3166 code (EH) exists for country-selector purposes, but in the E.164 telephone numbering system it maps straight to +212.
For callers and developers alike, the practical rule is simple: there is no separate Western Sahara numbering system to learn. Landline area codes 5288 (Laayoune) and 5289 (Dakhla) are the only location signal in the numbering plan — mobile numbers carry none at all.
Code +212 was assigned to Western Sahara by the ITU under the E.164 plan. The “+” means “dial your local international exit code”; on a mobile, press and hold 0 to type it.
All four mean the same thing — they connect your call to Western Sahara.
How to call Western Sahara from anywhere
The pattern: your exit code + 212 + the area code (landline) or mobile prefix + subscriber number, dropping the 0 trunk prefix used domestically — identical to dialing anywhere else in Morocco.
Full example: +212 5288 12345 (Laayoune landline) or +212 661 234 567 (mobile) — the numbering plan is Morocco's, unmodified.
Western Sahara phone number format explained
Western Sahara numbers use Morocco's national 9-digit subscriber format after the country code. Landlines in Laayoune use the 5288 area code, Dakhla uses 5289, both followed by a 5-digit local number. Mobile numbers use a 6XX or 7XX prefix followed by 6 digits, with no geographic meaning.
Domestically, a 0 trunk prefix precedes the area code or mobile prefix; this 0 is always dropped in the +212 international format.
Landline
+212 5288 XXXXX (Laayoune) · +212 5289 XXXXX (Dakhla)
Mobile
+212 6XX XXX XXX or +212 7XX XXX XXX (Maroc Telecom, Orange Maroc, inwi — no geographic meaning)
Western Sahara area codes — major cities
Drop the local leading 0 when calling from abroad.
| City | Region | Area code |
|---|---|---|
| Laayoune (El Aaiún) | Largest city in the territory | 5288 |
| Dakhla (Ad-Dakhla) | Southern coastal city | 5289 |
| Smara, Boujdour | Share the Laayoune area code range | 5288 |
Western Sahara mobile network prefixes
The prefix after +212 tells you which network issued the SIM — though number portability means it no longer guarantees the operator.
Maroc Telecom (IAM)
Largest operator with the broadest coverage in remote and desert areas of the territory.
Orange Maroc
Second-largest operator, competitive in Laayoune and Dakhla with less reach in remote areas.
inwi
Third operator, competes on price, coverage concentrated in urban areas.
Western Sahara time zone
Western Sahara operates on UTC+1 year-round, identical to Morocco since Morocco eliminated seasonal daylight saving changes in 2018.
Business hours generally run 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM, Monday to Friday, with reduced Friday-afternoon availability around prayer times and further-reduced hours during Ramadan.
Emergency numbers in Western Sahara
Free to call from any Western Sahara phone, landline or mobile.
Common mistakes when calling Western Sahara
Almost every failed international call is a formatting issue, not a network issue.
Looking for a separate Western Sahara country code
It doesn't exist — the ITU has never assigned one, given the territory's disputed and unresolved UN status. Every number uses +212, the same as Morocco.
Assuming a mobile prefix reveals the subscriber's location
Mobile numbers (6XX, 7XX) are allocated nationally and carry no geographic information — only landline area codes (5288 Laayoune, 5289 Dakhla) give any location signal.
Flagging 5288/5289 numbers as suspicious
These are legitimate Moroccan geographic area codes serving Western Sahara — fraud-detection systems unfamiliar with them may incorrectly flag valid calls.
Assuming a mobile prefix reveals the current carrier
Number portability has been available in Morocco (and Western Sahara) since 2006 — a prefix originally allocated to one operator may now be served by another.
Using 'Western Sahara' alone on postal addresses
For mail delivery purposes (a related but separate concern from calling), address items to the city followed by 'Morocco' — the Moroccan postal service handles delivery in the territory.
Tips to reduce the cost of calling Western Sahara
Map the ISO code EH to +212 in any system
If your phone validation or CRM system has a separate Western Sahara entry, it should point to +212 and use Moroccan numbering rules — there's no alternative code to assign.
Buy a local SIM in Laayoune or Dakhla if visiting
Maroc Telecom, Orange Maroc, and inwi all have retail stores in both cities — a passport or valid ID is required for registration, and prepaid SIMs are inexpensive.
Expect reduced coverage outside main cities
The territory's vast desert interior has sparse-to-nonexistent mobile coverage outside Laayoune, Dakhla, and the coastal highway corridor — don't rely on connectivity when traveling through remote areas.
Account for Ramadan hours
Business hours are typically reduced during Ramadan, following the same pattern as the rest of Morocco — afternoon availability especially may be limited.
Why businesses get a Western Sahara virtual number
Western Sahara's economy centers on phosphate mining (the Bou Craa mine near Laayoune, operated by Morocco's OCP Group), Atlantic fishing out of Dakhla, growing renewable energy investment (solar and wind), and an emerging tourism sector — Dakhla in particular has become a notable kitesurfing destination for European visitors. All of these industries rely entirely on Moroccan telecommunications infrastructure for voice, data, and operational communications.
Standard +212 provisioning covers the whole territory
A Morocco virtual number from MCM works identically whether your contacts are in Laayoune, Dakhla, or anywhere else in Morocco's +212 numbering plan.
A local line for phosphate, fishing, and renewable energy operations
Businesses supporting these industries in Western Sahara can reach local contacts with a genuine local number rather than a foreign one.
No need for physical office setup
A virtual number lets businesses establish a local point of contact for Western Sahara-based operations without needing on-the-ground premises.
Simplified support routing
Calls to a +212 number can be forwarded to a team anywhere in the world, letting a business stay centralized while appearing locally reachable.
Cost control on inbound and outbound calling
A virtual number avoids per-minute international costs for both the business and its Western Sahara-based contacts, who reach a local number at local rates.
Faster setup than a physical line
A cloud DID can go live in minutes, compared to arranging a physical line through one of Morocco's three telecom operators.
Western Sahara virtual numbers with My Country Mobile
MCM provisions Morocco (+212) virtual numbers as part of a platform spanning 190+ countries and 17,500+ businesses — since Western Sahara uses the same numbering plan, a +212 DID reaches contacts in Laayoune and Dakhla exactly as it would in Casablanca, while the call routes to your team anywhere in the world.
Local DIDs in major area codes — provisioned in minutes
Call forwarding to any mobile, landline, SIP endpoint, or softphone worldwide
HD voice with G.711, G.729, Opus & AMR-WB — auto-negotiated per call
Sub-150ms latency on major voice corridors via distributed PoPs
99.99% uptime SLA backed by geo-redundant infrastructure & sub-2s failover
WebRTC support for browser-based calling without softphone installs
REST APIs for provisioning, routing & call detail records (CDRs)
Ulinzi wa ulaghai uliojengewa ndani kwa kugundua hitilafu ya AI & STIR/SHAKEN
Ufuatiliaji wa mtandao wa 24/7 na usaidizi wa kujitolea
How to get your Western Sahara virtual number
Biashara nyingi zinapatikana ndani ya saa, sio siku.
Choose your +212 number type — a local virtual number for a dedicated presence, or an international routing option depending on your call volume.
Sign up and select Morocco from the country list — create an MCM account and pick Morocco (+212) from the global number inventory, which covers Western Sahara under the same numbering plan.
Configure call routing and forwarding — point your new number to an existing contact centre, mobile phone, softphone, or IVR system anywhere in the world.
Go live and monitor performance — start receiving calls immediately and use the MCM dashboard to track call volume, uptime, and costs alongside any other country numbers in your account.
Miongozo mingine ya upigaji simu ya nchi
Misimbo zaidi ya nchi yenye thamani ya kualamisha.
Get a Western Sahara virtual number with MCM
Whether you're supporting phosphate, fishing, or renewable energy operations in Western Sahara, claim a +212 virtual number and stay reachable at local rates — whether your team sits in Laayoune, Casablanca, or anywhere else in the world.
Western Sahara +212 — FAQ
Does Western Sahara have its own country code?expand_more
No. Every number in the territory uses Morocco's +212 — the ITU has never assigned a separate code, reflecting the territory's disputed and unresolved UN status.
How do I call Laayoune (El Aaiún)?expand_more
For a landline, dial +212 5288 followed by the 5-digit subscriber number. For a mobile, dial +212 6XX XXX XXX or +212 7XX XXX XXX — mobile numbers don't carry geographic prefixes.
How do I call Dakhla?expand_more
For a landline, dial +212 5289 followed by the 5-digit subscriber number. Mobile numbers follow the same national format as anywhere else in Morocco.
Can I tell from a phone number whether it's in Western Sahara or Morocco?expand_more
Partially, for landlines — area codes 5288 (Laayoune) and 5289 (Dakhla) indicate the territory. Mobile numbers give no location information at all.
What mobile networks are available?expand_more
The same three that serve Morocco: Maroc Telecom (IAM), Orange Maroc, and inwi. Maroc Telecom has the broadest coverage in remote areas; all three offer 4G in Laayoune and Dakhla.
Can I buy a SIM card in Western Sahara?expand_more
Yes — Maroc Telecom, Orange Maroc, and inwi all have retail stores in Laayoune and Dakhla. A valid passport or ID is required, and prepaid SIMs are inexpensive.
What currency is used?expand_more
The Moroccan Dirham (MAD) — all telecom tariffs, top-ups, and billing use MAD.
What time zone is Western Sahara in?expand_more
UTC+1 permanently, the same as Morocco since Morocco eliminated seasonal daylight saving changes in 2018.
Is there number portability?expand_more
Yes — Morocco introduced mobile and fixed-line portability in 2006, which applies in Western Sahara too, so a prefix alone doesn't reliably indicate the current operator.
Can I get a Western Sahara number without living there?expand_more
Yes. MCM provisions +212 virtual numbers covering Morocco and Western Sahara that ring on your devices anywhere in the world.