How To Call Bahrain From US: Updated For 2025

Quick Answer

To call Bahrain from the United States:

• Landline or Mobile: 011 + 973 + Bahraini Number (8 digits)

Examples:

• For a Bahraini landline (e.g., starting with 17): 011 + 973 + 17XX XXXX
• For a Bahraini mobile phone (e.g., starting with 39): 011 + 973 + 39XX XXXX

Bahrain is on Arabia Standard Time (AST), UTC+3, and does not observe daylight saving. This is typically 7-8 hours ahead of US Eastern Time (ET), depending on US DST.

Understanding Bahraini Phone Numbers

Bahrain uses a closed numbering plan with the country code +973. All phone numbers within Bahrain are 8 digits long following the country code. You do not need to dial a separate city or area code when calling from abroad.

Landline Numbers

• Format from US: 011 + 973 + XXXXXXXX (8-digit number)
• Bahraini landline numbers are 8 digits long. They often start with prefixes like 17 (Batelco) or 16 (other providers), followed by 6 more digits.

Mobile Numbers

• Format from US: 011 + 973 + XXXXXXXX (8-digit number)
• Bahraini mobile numbers are also 8 digits long and generally start with the digit 3. Specific ranges are allocated to different operators.

Bahraini Numbering Plan - No Separate Area Codes

When calling Bahrain from the USA, you do not dial a separate city or area code after the country code +973. Bahrain has a closed national numbering system where the 8-digit national significant number (NSN) directly follows the country code.

The first few digits of the 8-digit number indicate the type of service and often the original service provider:

• Fixed Lines (Landlines): Typically start with 17XX XXXX (Batelco), 16XX XXXX (e.g., Lightspeed, Kalam, Zain), or 13XX XXXX (e.g., Etisalcom, Zain).
• Mobile Lines: Predominantly start with 3XXX XXXX. Other universal service numbers might start with 6XXX XXXX or 7XXX XXXX but are less common for direct mobile dialing.

Simply dial 011 + 973 + followed by the complete 8-digit Bahraini phone number.

Bahraini Mobile Phone Prefixes

Bahraini mobile phone numbers are 8 digits long after the +973 country code. They generally start with the digit 3. Specific ranges are assigned to operators:

*Mobile Number Portability is active in Bahrain, so the prefix may not always indicate the current service provider for a specific number.

Time Difference

Bahrain operates on Arabia Standard Time (AST), which is UTC+3. Bahrain does not observe Daylight Saving Time and remains on UTC+3 year-round.

The time difference compared to the US East Coast (ET):

• When the US is on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4, typically March to November): Bahrain is 7 hours ahead of ET. (e.g., 12 PM EDT is 7 PM in Bahrain).
• When the US is on Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5, typically November to March): Bahrain is 8 hours ahead of ET. (e.g., 12 PM EST is 8 PM in Bahrain).

Bahrain's Phone System

Bahrain boasts a highly developed and modern telecommunications infrastructure, regulated by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). The country has achieved high internet and mobile penetration rates. Key service providers include Batelco (the incumbent provider for landlines and a major mobile operator), Zain Bahrain, and STC Bahrain (formerly Viva). These operators offer comprehensive services, including advanced mobile technologies like 5G, and robust fixed-line and broadband internet services. The numbering plan is closed, with all standard phone numbers being 8 digits long after the +973 country code.

Best Times to Call

Considering Bahrain is 7-8 hours ahead of US Eastern Time (ET):

• For business calls from the US East Coast, early morning ET is generally the best window. For instance, 8 AM - 10 AM ET would correspond to 3 PM - 5 PM or 4 PM - 6 PM in Bahrain.
• The typical work week in Bahrain is Sunday to Thursday, with business hours often around 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM AST.