Sharjah, United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪
#847
,
Nomad Score:
61%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
42%
Weight: 150
Moderately high cost of living compared to other cities in the region, but cheaper than Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
45%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are more affordable than Dubai but still relatively expensive compared to global averages.
🍎 Food & Groceries
53%
Weight: 40
Wide availability of groceries with moderate prices; dining out can be costly but there are budget options.
🚌 Transportation Cost
67%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but affordable; taxis and ride-hailing are moderately priced.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
50%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are available but tend to be pricey, especially for expats.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
58%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are moderately priced with good facilities available.
💱 Currency Stability
91%
Weight: 30
UAE Dirham is pegged to the US Dollar, providing strong currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
79%
Weight: 100
High-speed fiber internet widely available with reliable connectivity.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
63%
Weight: 40
Growing number of coworking spaces, though less than Dubai; options improving steadily.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
75%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer free WiFi, suitable for casual work sessions.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
60%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to digital nomads but not as widespread or specialized as in larger cities.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
41%
Weight: 100
Sharjah is less popular among digital nomads compared to Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
60%
Weight: 30
Reasonable work-life balance with cultural emphasis on family and leisure.
🌳 Environmental Quality
52%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution is moderate; efforts underway to improve green initiatives.
🧼 Cleanliness
78%
Weight: 10
City is generally clean with strict regulations on littering.
🗨️ Language Barrier
70%
Weight: 30
English widely spoken, though Arabic is official; some language barriers may exist.
💨 Air Quality
43%
Weight: 15
Air quality can be poor due to dust and urban pollution, especially in summer.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
75%
Weight: 20
Good quality healthcare facilities, with many private hospitals and clinics.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
50%
Weight: 25
Healthcare can be expensive without insurance; public options are limited for expats.
🏥 Healthcare
72%
Weight: 20
Overall healthcare system is reliable and modern.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
78%
Weight: 80
Hot desert climate with very hot summers and mild winters; mostly sunny year-round.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
95%
Weight: 10
Very low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, or hurricanes.
🏞️ Green Spaces
40%
Weight: 10
Limited green spaces within the city; some parks but overall sparse vegetation.
❄️ Air Conditioning
90%
Weight: 15
Widespread and reliable air conditioning in all buildings and public transport.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
21%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; mostly hot and dry with mild winters.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
65%
Weight: 20
Rich Emirati culture with strong Islamic traditions; more conservative than Dubai.
🌃 Nightlife
32%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options due to conservative laws; more subdued compared to neighboring cities.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
50%
Weight: 15
Desert landscapes nearby; limited natural outdoor recreational areas within city.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
55%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Arabic exist but not widespread; English is dominant.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
60%
Weight: 10
Cultural tours and local experiences available, focusing on heritage and traditional crafts.
🎳 Indoors Fun
58%
Weight: 10
Shopping malls and cultural centers provide indoor entertainment options.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
67%
Weight: 25
Diverse food scene with Middle Eastern and international cuisines; moderate pricing.
🧠 Yoga Studios
55%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios available but fewer than in Dubai.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
60%
Weight: 15
Good availability of gyms and fitness centers.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
62%
Weight: 15
Increasing availability of healthy and organic food options.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
70%
Weight: 20
UTC+4 time zone is favorable for working with Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
55%
Weight: 25
Growing business community but smaller than Dubai; fewer networking events.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
48%
Weight: 20
Limited local remote job market; most opportunities come from international companies.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
45%
Weight: 20
Freelance ecosystem is nascent with limited formal support.
🏢 Coworking Quality
60%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are modern and well-equipped but fewer in number.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
50%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup scene but overshadowed by Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
💳 Local Payment Services
70%
Weight: 10
Good availability of digital payment options and mobile wallets.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
65%
Weight: 15
UAE is progressive on blockchain and crypto, but Sharjah is less active than Dubai.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
60%
Weight: 30
Sharjah International Airport offers good regional connectivity but fewer international flights than Dubai.
🚇 Public Transit
35%
Weight: 20
Limited public transit options; no metro system; reliance on taxis and private cars.
🚶 Walkability
40%
Weight: 20
Urban sprawl and hot climate reduce walkability; some pedestrian-friendly areas.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
75%
Weight: 15
Uber and Careem operate widely and reliably.
🚲 Cycling
25%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is minimal and climate is challenging for cycling.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
65%
Weight: 15
Good road connections to Dubai and Abu Dhabi; bus services available.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
30%
Weight: 10
Limited availability of scooter and bike rentals.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
80%
Weight: 20
Excellent mobile network coverage with 4G and 5G widely available.
🔒 VPN Reliability
70%
Weight: 20
VPNs generally work well, though some restrictions apply.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
90%
Weight: 15
Very reliable power supply with minimal outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
55%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in malls and some public areas but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
65%
Weight: 40
Tourist and business visas are straightforward; longer stays require sponsorship.
📊 Tax Friendliness
90%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax; favorable tax environment for freelancers and businesses.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
30%
Weight: 15
Limited freedom of speech; strict laws on criticism and public expression.
🏛️ Political Stability
95%
Weight: 20
Highly stable political environment with strong government control.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
50%
Weight: 15
Opening bank accounts can be bureaucratic and requires residency or sponsorship.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
60%
Weight: 10
Business registration is possible but more complex than in free zones.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
55%
Weight: 35
UAE offers remote work visas but Sharjah-specific options are limited.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
58%
Weight: 50
Moderately nomad-friendly with good infrastructure but less community support.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
40%
Weight: 25
Few dedicated nomad events; most activities centered in Dubai.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
50%
Weight: 20
Limited online communities specifically for Sharjah-based digital nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
88%
Weight: 100
Very safe city with low crime rates and strong law enforcement.
♀️ Female Friendly
60%
Weight: 50
Generally safe for women but conservative cultural norms apply.
✊ Racial Tolerance
70%
Weight: 50
Diverse expatriate population with reasonable racial tolerance, though some social stratification exists.