01224 Area Code: Aberdeen Dialling Guide

If you’ve received a call from a number starting with 01224, it originates from Aberdeen — Scotland’s third-largest city and the undisputed oil capital of Europe. The 01224 area code serves the entire Aberdeen metropolitan area, from the historic granite city centre to the surrounding commuter towns. Whether you’re returning a missed call or looking to establish a business presence in the north-east of Scotland, this guide explains everything you need to know about the 01224 telephone code.

What Area Is 01224?

The 01224 dialling code covers Aberdeen city and its immediate surroundings in the north-east of Scotland. Known as the “Granite City” for its distinctive grey stone architecture, Aberdeen is home to over 230,000 people and serves as the hub of the UK’s oil and gas industry.

Specifically, the phone area code 01224 covers:

• Aberdeen city centre — the commercial heart of north-east Scotland, home to Union Street and the Castlegate
• Dyce — located north of the city, home to Aberdeen International Airport and major energy company offices
• Bridge of Don — a large residential area north of the River Don
• Cove Bay — a coastal suburb on the southern edge of the city
• Westhill — a commuter town west of Aberdeen with a significant energy sector workforce
• Kingswells — a growing suburb on the western outskirts
• Portlethen — a commuter town south of Aberdeen along the A90
• Bucksburn — a residential area near Dyce
• Torry — a historic fishing community south of the River Dee
• Altens — an industrial and business park area serving the oil and gas sector

So if someone asks “where is 01224?”, the answer is Aberdeen and the surrounding north-east Scotland commuter belt — the gateway to Scotland’s energy industry.

Towns and Areas Using the 01224 Code

The 01224 area code UK coverage extends across the wider Aberdeen metropolitan region. Here is a comprehensive list of the main towns and districts that share the 01224 phone code:

• Aberdeen city centre (AB10, AB11, AB24, AB25)
• Dyce
• Bridge of Don
• Cove Bay
• Westhill
• Kingswells
• Portlethen
• Bucksburn
• Torry
• Altens
• Danestone
• Mastrick
• Northfield
• Mannofield
• Rosemount

The tel code 01224 is closely associated with the energy sector, as many of the world’s largest oil and gas companies maintain offices within the code’s coverage area.

History of the 01224 Area Code

The 01224 area code was introduced on 16 April 1995 during the national PhONEday renumbering. Before that date, Aberdeen’s area code was simply 0224. PhONEday inserted a “1” after the initial zero for all UK geographic codes, transforming 0224 into 01224.

Aberdeen has been a major trading and communications hub for centuries. The city’s importance grew dramatically from the 1970s onwards with the discovery of North Sea oil, and the 01224 code quickly became synonymous with the global energy industry. The “Granite City” nickname reflects the distinctive silvery-grey stone used in much of its architecture, quarried from the Rubislaw quarry that was once the largest man-made hole in Europe.

Throughout the numbering changes, local subscriber numbers remained the same — only the area code prefix was updated. The 01224 code today is firmly linked to Aberdeen’s identity as Scotland’s energy capital and a thriving business centre.

How to Dial 01224 Numbers

Dialling an 01224 number follows the same pattern as all UK geographic numbers:

• From a UK landline or mobile: Dial the full number as written, e.g. 01224 XXX XXX. Include the 01224 prefix even when calling from within Aberdeen on a mobile phone.
• From within the 01224 area on a landline: You may drop the area code and dial just the six-digit local number, though the full number also works.
• From abroad: Replace the leading 0 with the UK country code +44, so the number becomes +44 1224 XXX XXX.

All 01224 numbers consist of the five-digit area code (01224) plus a six-digit local number, giving eleven digits in total. Calls to 01224 numbers are charged at standard geographic rates and are normally included in bundled minutes on most UK phone plans.

Getting a 01224 Business Number

An Aberdeen phone number lends instant credibility to any business targeting customers in north-east Scotland, particularly in the oil, gas, and energy sectors. You don’t need a physical office in Aberdeen to use one — modern VoIP technology makes it straightforward to get a virtual 01224 number that routes calls to any device, anywhere.

If your business needs an Aberdeen (01224) phone number, you can get one through a hosted VoIP system. Virtual numbers start from just £6/month with no long-term contracts. Explore your options with Hypercloud Hosted VoIP or read our detailed guide on how virtual phone numbers work for UK businesses.

Related Area Codes Near Aberdeen

If you operate across north-east Scotland, it’s useful to know the neighbouring area codes around Aberdeen:

• 01467 — Inverurie
• 01569 — Stonehaven
• 01779 — Peterhead
• 01358 — Ellon
• 01330 — Banchory

For guides on other major Scottish city codes, see our articles on the 0131 area code for Edinburgh and the 0141 area code for Glasgow.

Frequently Asked Questions