Claude Code in Saudi Arabia: plans, setup and sign-in

Yes. Saudi Arabia is on Anthropic's list of supported countries, so Claude Code works there directly. You can use it on a Claude Pro, Max or Ultra plan, which the Saudi App Store sells in riyals, or pay per token with an API key. You install it with one command, then sign in on first launch.

Does Claude Code work in Saudi Arabia?#

Yes. Saudi Arabia is on Anthropic's list of supported countries, which covers Claude.ai, Claude Code, Cowork and Anthropic's API. You subscribe, install and work from Saudi Arabia without changing your region.

Keep Claude Code on your own account. Don't buy a shared account: everyone who uses it can see your chats and your code.

Which Claude plan includes Claude Code?#

Pro, Max and Ultra. The free plan doesn't include it. Anthropic's help page says: "With Pro, Max, and Ultra plans, you now have access to both Claude on the web, desktop, and mobile apps and Claude Code in your terminal with one unified subscription."

The plans differ in their usage limits:

• Pro and Max have a five-hour session limit and a weekly limit.
• Ultra has a weekly limit, and verified Ultra accounts have no five-hour limit.
• Max and Ultra also have a separate weekly limit for Fable.

Claude Code shares these limits with the Claude apps, so a long coding session leaves less for your chats. Run /status inside Claude Code to see what is left. How to choose a plan is in Claude Pro vs Max.

What do you need before you install it?#

• System: macOS 13.0 or later, Windows 10 1809 or later, Windows Server 2019 or later, or Ubuntu 20.04 or later, Debian 10 or later, or Alpine Linux 3.19 or later.
• Hardware: 4 GB of RAM or more, on an x64 or ARM64 processor.
• Shell: Bash, Zsh, PowerShell or CMD, and an internet connection.

On Windows, Anthropic recommends Git for Windows so Claude Code can use its Bash tool; without it, Claude Code uses PowerShell.

How do you install Claude Code?#

Run Anthropic's installer for your system:

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd

The installer shows no progress while it downloads. When it finishes, open a new terminal window and run claude --version. If something looks wrong, claude doctor checks your setup. This install updates itself in the background.

Other methods Anthropic offers:

• Homebrew: brew install --cask claude-code. It doesn't update itself by default; run brew upgrade claude-code.
• WinGet: winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode. It doesn't update itself by default either; run winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode.
• npm: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code, with Node.js 22 or later and without sudo.

How do you sign in?#

Run claude in your terminal. On first launch, it opens a browser window for you to log in. If the browser doesn't open, press c to copy the login link and paste it into your browser.

• With a Claude plan: log in with the account that holds your Pro, Max or Ultra plan. If you subscribed in the Claude iPhone app, use the same account.
• With an Anthropic API key: choose the Claude Console and log in with your Console account. You then pay per token from your Console balance.

If ANTHROPIC_API_KEY is set in your environment, Claude Code uses that key in place of your plan once you approve it, and the usage is billed per token to that key's Console account. Run /status to see which method is active.

Plan or API key: which costs less?#

A plan has a fixed monthly price and usage limits, so it suits hours of coding every day. An API key charges for every token, so it suits a few sessions a week. Each turn resends the conversation, the files Claude Code reads and the output of its commands, so tokens add up fast. Worked examples are in The cheapest way to use Claude Code.

Is there a cheaper way to run Claude Code in Saudi Arabia?#

Yes. 5abeer is an independent service compatible with the Anthropic Messages API, so Claude Code runs on it as Anthropic ships it, on a plan or on an API key.

With a 5abeer plan#

Subscribe to the official apps for less than their official price. The 5abeer AI app turns Claude Code on for your plan in one click, with no key and no files to edit, and installs Claude Code if it is missing. These are our plans and prices, as on the pricing page:

What you should know before you subscribe:

• Every Bundle plan runs every official app, from the smallest to the largest: Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cowork, ChatGPT Desktop, Codex and Google Antigravity.
• Each plan has one 5-hour limit and one weekly limit that cover all your apps, as in Usage limits. We don't promise limits that match Anthropic's plans.
• You pay by international card on Stripe's secure payment page, as in Payment methods.
• Activated within minutes in the 5abeer AI app on Mac, Windows and Linux. Then close any open Claude Code session and start a new one.

With a 5abeer API key#

Through the API, you use every model priced per token for less than its official price. Create a key for Claude models, as in Create a key, then add it to Claude Code's settings file:

{
  "env": {
    "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL": "https://api.5abeer.ai",
    "ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN": "YOUR_5ABEER_API_KEY",
    "ANTHROPIC_MODEL": "claude-sonnet-5.5"
  }
}

• ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL sends Claude Code's requests to 5abeer.
• ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN is your key: replace YOUR_5ABEER_API_KEY with it.
• ANTHROPIC_MODEL is the starting model; change it later with /model.

The file must be valid JSON, with no comments or trailing commas. Start a new session and run /status to check which credential is active. While the key is set, it replaces your Claude login, so requests come out of your 5abeer balance. To go back, remove the three lines.

Control every key: a spend limit, an expiry date and an IP allow-list. The full setup is in Claude Code setup, and our prices next to the official ones are on Claude API.

Which option suits you?#

Common errors and fixes#

• "Login expired": run /login and sign in again. Claude Code warns you a few days before.
• Charged per token while on a plan: an ANTHROPIC_API_KEY in your shell takes priority over your login. Run unset ANTHROPIC_API_KEY (in PowerShell, Remove-Item Env:ANTHROPIC_API_KEY), then check /status.
• `command not found` after installing: open a new terminal window, then follow Anthropic's Troubleshoot installation and login page if it persists.
• INVALID_API_KEY: on a 5abeer key, the key is wrong or didn't reach Claude Code. Check settings.json.
• MODEL_PLATFORM_NOT_ALLOWED: the key belongs to a provider other than Claude.
• INSUFFICIENT_BALANCE: top up your balance, then try again.

Every other code is in Errors and fixes.

Questions#

Do I need a VPN to use Claude Code in Saudi Arabia?#

No. Saudi Arabia is on Anthropic's list of supported countries, so you sign up, subscribe and use Claude Code from there directly.

Is Claude Code free?#

It costs nothing to install, but it needs a paid Claude plan, starting at Pro, or an API key with a balance. The free Claude plan doesn't include it.

Can I pay for Claude Code in riyals?#

Yes, through the Claude iPhone app, where the Saudi App Store sells Pro, Max and Ultra in riyals. Then log in to Claude Code with the same account.

Does Claude Code behave differently on a 5abeer key?#

It's the Claude Code Anthropic ships, with the same commands and settings files. Features that need a claude.ai sign-in aren't available on a key, and since version 2.1.196 Remote Control is off while the base URL isn't Anthropic's.

Can I pay for a 5abeer plan from Saudi Arabia?#

Yes, by international card on Stripe's secure payment page. The steps are in Payment methods.

Is 5abeer part of Anthropic?#

No. 5abeer is an independent service, not affiliated with OpenAI, Anthropic or Google.

Sources#

Checked on 2026-11-01:

• Claude Code docs: Advanced setup, Authentication, Environment variables, Settings files and precedence, Other LLM gateways and Troubleshoot installation and login
• Claude Help Center: Use Claude Code with your Pro, Max, or Ultra plan
• Claude: Pricing
• Apple App Store, Saudi Arabia: Claude by Anthropic, in-app purchases
• Anthropic: Supported countries and regions