Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Green Mountain (Jabal Al Thera) - neon lit at night
- Birdwatching Locations
- Raydah Escarpment Reserve
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Habala Village plateau (wild camping allowed)
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Al-Soudah National Park (Highest point in Saudi Arabia)
- National Parks Nearby
- Asir National Park
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Abha Dam Lake walkway
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Aramex, SMSA Express, DHL
- Tech Repair Services
- Jarir Bookstore (Service center), Local shops in Khalidiah
- Table Tennis Spots
- Social centers in sports clubs like Abha FC
- Language Classes
- Wall Street English (Al-Andalus)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- King Abdulaziz Public Library
- Community Centers
- Aseer Literary Club
- Gaming Lounges
- G-Zone Gaming Center
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- N/A (Prohibited)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 4,500 SAR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 180,000 SAR)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 3,200 SAR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 128,000 SAR)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 4,200 SAR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 252,000 SAR)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 3,000 SAR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 180,000 SAR)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 4,000 SAR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 320,000 SAR)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 2,800 SAR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 224,000 SAR)
- Corporate Tax
- 20% (for foreign investors); Zakat (2.5%) for Saudi/GCC nationals
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5%
- Tax System
- Territorial (income sourced within KSA); No personal income tax for employees
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 0% (No personal income tax)
- VAT
- 15%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, recently introduced via anti-tax avoidance regulations
- Property Tax
- No annual property tax; 'White Land Tax' applies to undeveloped urban land
- Property Transaction Tax
- 5% (Real Estate Transaction Tax - RETT)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- 0% tax on foreign-sourced income; Premium Residency options available
Essentials
- City
- Abha, Aseer Province, Saudi Arabia
- Population
- Approximately 750,000
- Internet Speed
- 85 Mbps average (STC 5G widely available)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 3.75 SAR (Fixed Peg), 1 EUR ≈ 4.05 SAR
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; bottled water 1.5L approx. 2 SAR
- Power
- 230V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK standard)
- SIM Card
- STC, Mobily, Zain (STC Sawa 100GB approx. 180 SAR)
- Banking for Expats
- Al Rajhi Bank, SNB (AlAhli), STC Pay (highly recommended digital wallet)
- Accommodation
- Furnished apartments and hotels; Gathern (local Airbnb alternative)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, Mada and Apple Pay accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Gathern app, Booking.com, Airbnb
- Budget Accommodation
- Abha Youth Hostel (approx. 60 SAR/night), Blue Inn Hotel (approx. 350 SAR/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Al-Soudah for views or Al Muftaha Art Village for culture
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Al Mansab or King Bilal Street (high concentration of cafes and services)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Hub (Al-Arbaeen District) - Approx. 80 SAR per day
- Best Cafe for Work
- Draft Cafe (King Abdulaziz Rd) - Quiet, fast Wi-Fi, excellent specialty coffee
- Networking Events
- Monsha’at (Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority) events at Abha Chamber of Commerce
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Abha Group, usually meeting at international hotels like Citadines
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Careem, and Kaiian
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Limited; mostly available within Al-Art Street for leisure (20 SAR/30 mins)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Al-Qahmah Beach (approx. 2 hours drive down the Sarawat mountains)
- Top Regional Airline
- flyadeal, Flynas
- Top International Airline
- Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia)
- Highway Access
- Route 15 (King Faisal Rd) connecting Abha to Khamis Mushait and Taif
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Abha International Airport (AHB); No train service currently available
- Public Transport Passes
- SAPTCO bus system (Local trips approx. 3-5 SAR)
- Regional Travel
- SAPTCO VIP buses to Jeddah or Riyadh; Car rental (approx. 150 SAR/day)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Aseer Central Hospital; Saudi German Hospital (Private)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Mudra Yoga Studio (Al-Andalus District) - Classes approx. 120 SAR
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Fitness Time (Pro and Plus branches) - Approx. 500 SAR/month
- Laundry Services
- Clean Line Laundry (Multiple locations) - Shirts approx. 5 SAR
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- HungerStation, Jahez, Mrsool
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Aseeda and Haneeth (Try Haneeth Ali Al-Garni)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Piatto (Italian) for pasta/salads; Greenish (Salad bar)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Dip 'n' Dip (Choclate desserts); Over Jar (Al-Rashid Mall)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Tuesday Market (Souq Al-Thulatha) for fresh local produce
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.sa, Noon.com
- Grocery Delivery
- Nana App, Lulu Hypermarket Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Non-alcoholic nightlife at Al-Art Street (cafes and walkables)
- Local Brewery
- N/A (Alcohol is prohibited); Code 0 for non-alcoholic sparkling drinks
- Wine Bars
- N/A (Alcohol is prohibited); Mocktail bars like 'The Shaker'
- Street Food Stalls
- Abha High Point for corn, tea, and local bread (Khubz)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Ginger Leaf (Indian), Piatto (Italian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Rijal Almaa Heritage Village (45km away), High City
- Museums & Art Venues
- Al Muftaha Art Village, Shada Palace
- Historical Sites
- Shamsan Ottoman Castle
- Religious Sites
- King Faisal Mosque
- Annual Events
- Abha Summer Festival (July-August)
- Cultural Districts
- Al-Basta District (Old architecture)
- Theater Venues
- King Fahd Cultural Center
- Local Markets
- Souq Al-Thulatha (Tuesday Market)
- Music Scene
- Live Oud performances in 'High City' during festival seasons
- Street Art
- Al-Art Street (Umbrella canopy and murals)
- Cooking Classes
- Local home-cooking experiences via 'Hala Yalla' app
- Art Galleries
- Al-Qatt Al-Asiri galleries (Traditional female wall art)
- Historic Buildings
- Traditional mud-and-stone towers in the city center
- Local Heritage
- Al-Qatt Al-Asiri (UNESCO recognized art form)