Dammam, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#143
,
Nomad Score:
61%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to major global cities; daily expenses are reasonable but higher than smaller Saudi cities.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
63%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are moderate; good options for furnished apartments but luxury housing can be expensive.
🍎 Food & Groceries
78%
Weight: 40
Local markets and supermarkets offer affordable groceries; dining out is relatively inexpensive.
🚌 Transportation Cost
80%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but taxis and ride-hailing services are affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
52%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife and entertainment options; costs vary but generally moderate.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
65%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available with mid-range pricing; some premium facilities are pricier.
💱 Currency Stability
87%
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 suitable for remote work.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
43%
Weight: 40
Few coworking spaces exist; limited compared to larger cities but growing slowly.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
67%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi, though not all are digital nomad-friendly environments.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
48%
Weight: 30
Limited number of cafes catering specifically to digital nomads; work-friendly spaces are scarce.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
39%
Weight: 100
Not a popular destination for digital nomads yet; community is small and niche.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
60%
Weight: 30
Work culture is improving but can be conservative; leisure options are limited.
🌳 Environmental Quality
55%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution is moderate; industrial activity affects air quality.
🧼 Cleanliness
74%
Weight: 10
City is generally clean with regular maintenance and public services.
🗨️ Language Barrier
42%
Weight: 30
Arabic is dominant; English is widely spoken in business but less so in daily life.
💨 Air Quality
51%
Weight: 15
Air quality can be poor due to dust and industrial emissions, especially in summer.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
76%
Weight: 20
Good quality healthcare facilities with modern hospitals and clinics.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
68%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is affordable for residents; expats may need insurance for better coverage.
🏥 Healthcare
72%
Weight: 20
Accessible healthcare services with a mix of public and private providers.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
89%
Weight: 80
Hot desert climate with very sunny days; winters are mild and pleasant.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
91%
Weight: 10
Very low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
40%
Weight: 10
Limited green spaces and parks within the city; mostly urban and desert landscape.
❄️ Air Conditioning
95%
Weight: 15
Widespread and reliable air conditioning in homes, offices, and public spaces.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
23%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; predominantly hot with mild winters.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
67%
Weight: 20
Rich Saudi culture with traditional customs; limited exposure to international cultural events.
🌃 Nightlife
21%
Weight: 15
Very limited nightlife options due to cultural and legal restrictions.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
54%
Weight: 15
Desert landscapes and nearby beaches offer outdoor activities but limited greenery.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
50%
Weight: 10
Some Arabic language schools and cultural centers available but not widespread.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
63%
Weight: 10
Growing tourism sector with desert tours, cultural sites, and heritage experiences.
🎳 Indoors Fun
47%
Weight: 10
Indoor entertainment options are limited; malls and cinemas available but few alternatives.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
75%
Weight: 25
Good variety of Middle Eastern cuisine; international food options are growing.
🧠 Yoga Studios
32%
Weight: 10
Very few yoga studios due to cultural norms; limited availability.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
61%
Weight: 15
Gyms and fitness centers are available but not widespread.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
69%
Weight: 15
Increasing availability of healthy and organic food options in supermarkets and restaurants.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
74%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 timezone is convenient for communication with Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
45%
Weight: 25
Limited formal networking events for digital nomads; business networking mostly local and traditional.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
38%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most opportunities come from international companies.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
36%
Weight: 20
Freelance culture is nascent; limited platforms and community support locally.
🏢 Coworking Quality
41%
Weight: 30
Existing coworking spaces are basic; lack of amenities compared to global standards.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
50%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem supported by government initiatives but still developing.
💳 Local Payment Services
64%
Weight: 10
Good mobile payment and banking apps; cashless payments increasingly common.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
40%
Weight: 15
Regulatory environment cautious; limited adoption but growing interest.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
73%
Weight: 30
King Fahd International Airport offers good regional and some international connections.
🚇 Public Transit
35%
Weight: 20
Public transit infrastructure is limited; no metro system yet.
🚶 Walkability
42%
Weight: 20
City layout favors cars; pedestrian infrastructure is improving but still limited.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
78%
Weight: 15
Popular ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem widely used and reliable.
🚲 Cycling
29%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is minimal; hot climate discourages biking.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
67%
Weight: 15
Good road network and bus services; domestic flights available.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
25%
Weight: 10
Very limited availability of scooter or bike rentals.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
84%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G and expanding 5G coverage throughout the city.
🔒 VPN Reliability
60%
Weight: 20
VPNs work but some restrictions and occasional slowdowns due to regulations.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
89%
Weight: 15
Stable and reliable electricity supply with minimal outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
53%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is available in malls and some cafes but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
65%
Weight: 40
Tourist and business visas are accessible; digital nomad-specific visas are limited.
📊 Tax Friendliness
81%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax, favorable for freelancers and remote workers.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
20%
Weight: 15
Strict regulations limit freedom of speech and expression.
🏛️ Political Stability
79%
Weight: 20
Stable political environment with strong government control.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
54%
Weight: 15
Banking requires residency and documentation; process can be bureaucratic for foreigners.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
62%
Weight: 10
Government initiatives streamline business registration but still involves paperwork.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
30%
Weight: 35
No dedicated digital nomad visa as of 2025; standard visas must be used.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
41%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and community support for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
27%
Weight: 25
Few to no regular digital nomad meetups or events.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
35%
Weight: 20
Small online presence for nomads in Dammam; mostly informal groups.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
83%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low crime rates; cultural norms promote public order.
♀️ Female Friendly
34%
Weight: 50
Conservative environment with restrictions on women's freedoms; improving but still limited.
✊ Racial Tolerance
56%
Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance; expatriate communities are common but some social segregation exists.