SMS and WhatsApp business messaging in Saudi Arabia
Reach customers across the Kingdom on SMS, WhatsApp, RCS and voice, with sender names registered for STC, Mobily and Zain, Arabic-first content and marketing kept within CST rules on consent and sending hours. BroadNet is licensed in every country where it operates.
SMS from an alphanumeric sender ID to a Saudi customer, in Arabic and English. Sender name and messages are sample data.
Short answer
Updated
Business SMS in Saudi Arabia must come from a sender name registered under CST rules (formerly CITC) and approved for STC, Mobily and Zain, submitted through a licensed provider with your company documents. Marketing needs documented opt-in and permitted hours. OmniChannels.ai, powered by BroadNet, handles registration and sends Arabic and English SMS, WhatsApp Business API messages, RCS and voice OTP from one platform and API.
What you can send in Saudi Arabia with OmniChannels.ai
Sender names registered for all three networks
We prepare your sender name registration with your commercial registration and authorization letter, and submit it for approval across STC, Mobily and Zain.
Arabic-first messaging
Send Arabic and English SMS with correct Unicode encoding, Arabic WhatsApp templates and an Arabic and English interface for your team.
WhatsApp Business API
BroadNet is an official Meta Business Solution Provider. Onboard through Embedded Signup and send marketing, utility and authentication templates, Flows and catalogs.
RCS with SMS fallback
Send verified, branded RCS messages with rich cards where RCS is available on the recipient's network and phone, with automatic SMS fallback elsewhere.
Voice OTP in Arabic
Deliver one-time passwords by voice call with Arabic text-to-speech as a backup to SMS or WhatsApp. Voice is provisioned with the account team.
Channel fallback
Set the channel order per use case, for example WhatsApp, then RCS, then SMS, and receive every status in one webhook format.
REST API and SMPP 3.4
Connect your app or core systems through the REST API or SMPP 3.4 over TLS, with HLR lookup to check numbers before sending.
Regional support
Work with BroadNet's Arabic- and English-speaking team. BroadNet is headquartered in Dubai, has an office in Riyadh and focuses on the GCC and the wider Middle East.
What to know before sending in Saudi Arabia
A practical summary, not legal advice. CST and operator requirements change, so we confirm the current position for your traffic during onboarding.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Sender ID | Every alphanumeric sender name must be registered and approved before use, through a licensed local provider. Unregistered names are blocked by the networks. |
| Entity documents | Expect to provide your commercial registration (or foreign company equivalent), an authorization letter and proof that the sender name belongs to your brand. |
| Promotional messages | Marketing runs on its own sender name, goes only to opted-in customers and is limited to permitted daytime hours, with no promotional sending late at night or early morning. |
| Consent and opt-out | Keep documented proof of opt-in and act on opt-out requests promptly. Saudi data protection law also applies to how you collect and store contact data. |
| Arabic content | Arabic is the default for many audiences, and some sectors expect Arabic content. Arabic SMS uses Unicode, so 70 characters fit in one segment. |
| OTP traffic | OTPs and alerts use a transactional sender name and can be sent at any hour. Keep them free of offers so they are not filtered as marketing. |
| WhatsApp is a primary channel for many Saudi customers. Business-initiated messages need approved templates and customer opt-in under Meta's rules. |
How to launch business messaging in Saudi Arabia
Gather your company documents early: sender name approval is the step that sets your launch date.
- 1
Separate your traffic
Split OTPs, alerts and service updates from promotional campaigns, and decide which sender names you need for each.
- 2
Submit documents
Share your commercial registration, authorization letter and brand proof. We submit the sender names for approval across the three networks.
- 3
Onboard WhatsApp
Connect your number through Meta Embedded Signup and get Arabic and English templates approved.
- 4
Integrate and set fallback
Connect through the REST API or SMPP, or upload opted-in lists from Excel or CSV, and set the channel order for each use case.
- 5
Test, then launch
Send to internal numbers on STC, Mobily and Zain, check delivery reports and schedule marketing inside permitted hours.
Is this the right setup for your Saudi traffic?
A good fit when
- You send OTPs, banking or e-commerce alerts to Saudi numbers and need reliable, registered sender names.
- Your customers expect Arabic first, with English as a second language.
- You want WhatsApp, SMS, RCS and voice OTP on one platform with fallback.
- You operate in Saudi Arabia and other GCC markets and want one provider and one API.
Good to know before you start
- Sender name approval depends on your documents and operator review, so allow time before launch.
- Marketing needs documented opt-in and is limited to permitted hours, with seasonal adjustments possible around Ramadan.
- Networks filter traffic that does not match the registered sender type or contains restricted content.
- CST and operator requirements change; we confirm the current rules for your case during onboarding.
- Voice OTP is set up with the account team and is not part of the public REST API.
SMS list rates in Saudi Arabia
Indicative price per SMS segment by monthly volume tier, averaged across operators, from BroadNet's published rate card. The more you send, the lower the rate.
Indicative list prices in USD before taxes and sender ID fees, reviewed September 24, 2026. Your quote confirms the final rate.
| Operator | Up to 100,000 |
|---|---|
| STC (Saudi Telecom Co.) | $0.0160 |
| Mobily (Etihad Etisalat) | $0.0160 |
| Zain KSA | $0.0173 |
Saudi Arabia business messaging questions
Who regulates business SMS in Saudi Arabia?
The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), formerly known as CITC, sets the rules for business SMS, including sender name registration and anti-spam requirements. The operators STC, Mobily and Zain enforce them on their networks. Personal data in your contact lists also falls under Saudi data protection law.
What documents do I need to register a sender name?
Typically your commercial registration or foreign company documents, an authorization letter on company letterhead and proof that the name belongs to your business or brand. Exact requirements depend on your entity and traffic type, so we share the current checklist at the start of onboarding.
Can a company outside Saudi Arabia send SMS to Saudi numbers?
Yes, through a licensed local route with a registered sender name. Foreign companies submit their own company documents for registration. We confirm what your entity needs during onboarding.
When can I send marketing SMS in Saudi Arabia?
Promotional SMS is limited to permitted daytime hours and can only go to customers who opted in. Hours can shift around Ramadan. Transactional messages such as OTPs are not limited to those hours. We confirm the current window before you schedule a campaign.
Do my messages need to be in Arabic?
Arabic is not required for every message, but many Saudi customers prefer it and some sectors expect Arabic content. Bilingual messages work well. Remember that Arabic SMS uses Unicode, which fits 70 characters per segment.
Why do SMS messages to Saudi Arabia fail?
The usual causes are an unregistered or mismatched sender name, marketing content sent on a transactional sender name or outside permitted hours, and badly formatted numbers. Use international format with the 966 country code and check the delivery report for each message.
Can I use WhatsApp for OTPs in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. WhatsApp authentication templates support one-tap, zero-tap and copy-code OTPs. Many businesses send the code on WhatsApp first and fall back to SMS or voice when it is not delivered, which keeps sign-in working for customers without WhatsApp.
Guides on this topic
- UAE & Saudi ArabiaSMS Sender ID Registration in the UAE and Saudi Arabia Explained8 min read
- UAE & Saudi ArabiaHow to Choose a Business Messaging Platform in the UAE and Saudi8 min read
- UAE & Saudi ArabiaRamadan and Eid Messaging Campaigns in the GCC: A Planning Guide8 min read
Explore more of the platform
Plan your Saudi messaging with us
Tell us your use cases, sender names and expected volumes. We'll walk you through CST registration, WhatsApp onboarding and fallback for Saudi Arabia.