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Analytics
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪
#847
,
Nomad Score:
58%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
31%
Weight: 150
Sharjah is generally more affordable than Dubai and Abu Dhabi but still relatively expensive compared to many global cities due to UAE's overall high living costs.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
37%
Weight: 80
Accommodation is cheaper than Dubai but still costly for many digital nomads, with limited budget options in central areas.
🍎 Food & Groceries
52%
Weight: 40
Food prices are moderate; local markets offer affordable groceries, but imported goods and dining out can be pricey.
🚌 Transportation Cost
68%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but affordable; taxis and ride-sharing are moderately priced.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
40%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are somewhat limited and can be expensive, especially for nightlife and cultural events.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
55%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are moderately priced, with several mid-range fitness centers available.
💱 Currency Stability
94%
Weight: 30
The UAE Dirham is pegged to the US Dollar, providing high currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
79%
Weight: 100
Good internet infrastructure with reliable high-speed fiber connections in most areas.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
53%
Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces compared to Dubai, but a few quality options exist.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
67%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer WiFi, though the ambiance and digital nomad friendliness vary.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
50%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers but not as widespread or well-equipped as in larger UAE cities.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
32%
Weight: 100
Sharjah is less popular among digital nomads compared to Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
87%
Weight: 25
Easy to obtain local SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
60%
Weight: 30
Reasonable work-life balance with cultural and leisure activities, though work culture can be demanding.
🌳 Environmental Quality
41%
Weight: 15
Sharjah has made efforts in environmental management but still faces challenges with urban pollution.
🧼 Cleanliness
70%
Weight: 10
Generally clean city with regular municipal cleaning services.
🗨️ Language Barrier
75%
Weight: 30
English is widely spoken, reducing language barriers for most digital nomads.
💨 Air Quality
38%
Weight: 15
Air quality can be poor due to dust and urban pollution, especially in summer months.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
65%
Weight: 25
Family-friendly environment with schools and parks, though limited entertainment options for children.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
74%
Weight: 20
Good quality healthcare facilities, though not as extensive as Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
45%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is high quality but expensive without insurance.
🏥 Healthcare
70%
Weight: 20
Accessible healthcare with modern hospitals and clinics.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
78%
Weight: 80
Hot desert climate with very hot summers and mild winters; ideal for sun lovers but challenging in peak summer.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
97%
Weight: 10
Very low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, or hurricanes.
🏞️ Green Spaces
42%
Weight: 10
Limited green spaces and parks compared to other cities, but some well-maintained areas exist.
❄️ Air Conditioning
95%
Weight: 15
Widespread and reliable air conditioning in all indoor public and private spaces.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
12%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; consistently hot and dry climate year-round.
🔊 Noise Pollution
50%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise pollution, higher in busy commercial areas.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
63%
Weight: 20
Rich Emirati culture with museums and heritage sites, though more conservative than Dubai.
🌃 Nightlife
28%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options due to conservative laws and cultural norms.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
50%
Weight: 15
Desert landscapes and coastal areas offer outdoor activities but limited natural parks.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
55%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Arabic exist but are limited compared to larger cities.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
60%
Weight: 10
Several cultural tours and desert experiences available for visitors.
🎳 Indoors Fun
51%
Weight: 10
Shopping malls and cultural centers provide indoor entertainment options.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
64%
Weight: 25
Diverse food scene with Middle Eastern and international cuisine, though less vibrant than Dubai.
🧠 Yoga Studios
48%
Weight: 10
Few yoga studios available, mostly small and boutique.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
56%
Weight: 15
Moderate availability of gyms and fitness centers.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
59%
Weight: 15
Healthy food options are available but not as widespread or affordable.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
73%
Weight: 20
UTC+4 time zone is favorable for working with Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
47%
Weight: 25
Limited compared to Dubai; smaller expat and digital nomad community.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
39%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most digital nomads rely on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
42%
Weight: 20
Freelance ecosystem is emerging but still underdeveloped.
🏢 Coworking Quality
51%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are functional but fewer and less modern than in Dubai.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
40%
Weight: 15
Startup ecosystem is nascent with limited support compared to Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
💳 Local Payment Services
65%
Weight: 10
Good availability of digital payment options and banking services.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
58%
Weight: 15
Moderate adoption with some regulatory clarity but not a major crypto hub.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
50%
Weight: 30
Sharjah International Airport offers regional flights but limited global connectivity.
🚇 Public Transit
35%
Weight: 20
Public transit infrastructure is limited; no metro system.
🚶 Walkability
40%
Weight: 20
Walkability is limited due to urban sprawl and hot climate.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
72%
Weight: 15
Ride-sharing apps like Uber and Careem are widely available and reliable.
🚲 Cycling
21%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is minimal and not practical due to heat.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
63%
Weight: 15
Good road connectivity to nearby emirates; bus services are limited.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
25%
Weight: 10
Very limited scooter or bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
84%
Weight: 20
Excellent mobile network coverage with 4G and expanding 5G availability.
🔒 VPN Reliability
70%
Weight: 20
VPNs generally work well, though some restrictions exist.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
91%
Weight: 15
Highly reliable power supply with minimal outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
55%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is available in malls and some public areas but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
68%
Weight: 40
Tourist and business visas are relatively easy to obtain; some restrictions apply.
📊 Tax Friendliness
90%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax, making it very tax-friendly for digital nomads.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
30%
Weight: 15
Freedom of speech is limited due to strict laws and cultural norms.
🏛️ Political Stability
95%
Weight: 20
Highly stable political environment.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
40%
Weight: 15
Opening bank accounts can be bureaucratic and requires residency or sponsorship.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
60%
Weight: 10
Business registration is straightforward in free zones but more complex on the mainland.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
65%
Weight: 35
UAE offers a remote work visa applicable to Sharjah, facilitating longer stays.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
50%
Weight: 50
Moderately nomad-friendly but overshadowed by Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
38%
Weight: 25
Few dedicated digital nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
45%
Weight: 20
Limited online communities specifically for Sharjah-based nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
93%
Weight: 100
Very safe city with low crime rates.
♀️ Female Friendly
60%
Weight: 50
Generally safe and female-friendly but conservative cultural norms apply.
✊ Racial Tolerance
70%
Weight: 50
Diverse expatriate population with reasonable racial tolerance.