Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#147
,
Nomad Score:
61%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to Western cities; daily expenses are reasonable but higher than smaller Saudi towns.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
63%
Weight: 80
Rental prices for apartments are moderate but can be high in expat-favored neighborhoods.
🍎 Food & Groceries
78%
Weight: 40
Local markets and supermarkets offer affordable groceries; dining out varies but generally affordable.
🚌 Transportation Cost
85%
Weight: 20
Public transport options are limited but taxis and ride-hailing services are inexpensive.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
54%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are growing but still limited; costs can be moderate to high for international-standard venues.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
67%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available with reasonable monthly fees, though premium facilities cost more.
💱 Currency Stability
92%
Weight: 30
Saudi Riyal is pegged to the US dollar, providing strong currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
79%
Weight: 100
Good broadband and 5G coverage in urban areas; speeds are reliable for remote work.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
51%
Weight: 40
Limited number of coworking spaces; growing but still sparse compared to major global hubs.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
68%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer WiFi, but quality and speed vary; some cafes cater to expats and digital nomads.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
56%
Weight: 30
Few cafes specifically designed for digital nomads; most are traditional coffee shops.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
32%
Weight: 100
Not a well-known digital nomad hotspot; limited community presence.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
87%
Weight: 25
Easy to obtain SIM cards with good data plans for tourists and residents.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
60%
Weight: 30
Work culture is improving; weekends on Friday-Saturday allow for rest, but work hours can be long.
🌳 Environmental Quality
53%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution and dust storms affect air quality; some green initiatives underway.
🧼 Cleanliness
74%
Weight: 10
Public areas and streets are generally clean due to strict regulations.
🗨️ Language Barrier
47%
Weight: 30
Arabic is dominant; English is widely spoken in business and expat areas but can be a barrier elsewhere.
💨 Air Quality
41%
Weight: 15
Frequent dust and sandstorms reduce air quality; can be challenging for sensitive individuals.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
62%
Weight: 25
Safe environment with family-oriented facilities but limited entertainment options for children.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
76%
Weight: 20
Modern hospitals and clinics with good standards, especially private healthcare.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
69%
Weight: 25
Private healthcare can be expensive; public healthcare is more affordable but limited for expats.
🏥 Healthcare
73%
Weight: 20
Accessible healthcare services with a mix of public and private options.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
87%
Weight: 80
Hot desert climate with very sunny days; winters are mild and pleasant.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
90%
Weight: 10
Very low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
45%
Weight: 10
Limited green parks within the city; mostly urban and desert surroundings.
❄️ Air Conditioning
95%
Weight: 15
Widespread use of air conditioning in homes, offices, and public spaces due to hot climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
23%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; predominantly hot and dry year-round.
🔊 Noise Pollution
64%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels; quieter residential areas available.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
78%
Weight: 20
Rich Saudi culture with traditional and modern influences; conservative social norms.
🌃 Nightlife
21%
Weight: 15
Very limited nightlife options due to cultural and legal restrictions.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
50%
Weight: 15
Desert landscapes and nearby beaches offer outdoor activities but limited greenery.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
62%
Weight: 10
Arabic language schools and cultural centers available; English widely used.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
67%
Weight: 10
Growing tourism sector with cultural and desert tours available.
🎳 Indoors Fun
48%
Weight: 10
Shopping malls and cinemas available but limited variety of indoor entertainment.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
79%
Weight: 25
Diverse food options including traditional Saudi cuisine and international restaurants.
🧠 Yoga Studios
34%
Weight: 10
Few yoga studios due to cultural conservatism; some private classes available.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
65%
Weight: 15
Gyms and fitness centers are available, mostly gender-segregated.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
68%
Weight: 15
Increasing availability of healthy and organic food options in supermarkets and restaurants.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
74%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 time zone is convenient for communication with Europe, Asia, and Africa.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
52%
Weight: 25
Limited formal networking events for digital nomads; business networking is more traditional.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
40%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most remote jobs come from international companies.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
38%
Weight: 20
Freelancing is growing but still nascent with limited local support.
🏢 Coworking Quality
49%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are functional but lack variety and community engagement.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
55%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem supported by government initiatives but still developing.
💳 Local Payment Services
63%
Weight: 10
Good availability of digital payment options and mobile wallets.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
31%
Weight: 15
Limited adoption and regulatory uncertainty around cryptocurrencies.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
77%
Weight: 30
King Fahd International Airport offers good regional and some international connections.
🚇 Public Transit
29%
Weight: 20
Public transportation infrastructure is minimal; reliance on private cars and taxis.
🚶 Walkability
35%
Weight: 20
City is car-dependent with limited pedestrian-friendly areas.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
78%
Weight: 15
Popular ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem widely used and reliable.
🚲 Cycling
22%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is almost non-existent; hot climate discourages cycling.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
64%
Weight: 15
Good road network and bus services; limited rail connectivity.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
18%
Weight: 10
Very limited or no scooter/bike rental services available.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
83%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G and expanding 5G coverage throughout the city.
🔒 VPN Reliability
50%
Weight: 20
VPN use is common but some restrictions and slowdowns may occur.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
89%
Weight: 15
Stable and reliable electricity supply with minimal outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
46%
Weight: 10
Limited public WiFi hotspots; mostly available in malls and cafes.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
67%
Weight: 40
Tourist and business visas are accessible; digital nomad-specific visas not yet available.
📊 Tax Friendliness
84%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax, favorable for freelancers and remote workers.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
20%
Weight: 15
Strict regulations on speech and expression; limited freedom compared to Western countries.
🏛️ Political Stability
81%
Weight: 20
Stable government with low risk of political unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
53%
Weight: 15
Bank account opening can be bureaucratic, especially for foreigners.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
60%
Weight: 10
Government initiatives have simplified business registration but still involves paperwork.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No dedicated digital nomad visa currently available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
37%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and community support for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
25%
Weight: 25
Few to no regular digital nomad meetups or events.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
39%
Weight: 20
Small online presence for digital nomads based in Al Khobar.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
86%
Weight: 100
Generally very safe with low crime rates.
♀️ Female Friendly
41%
Weight: 50
Conservative society with restrictions on women's freedoms; improving but still limited.
✊ Racial Tolerance
50%
Weight: 50
Diverse expat population but some social and cultural barriers exist.