Forum
Analytics
Dammam, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#143
,
Nomad Score:
53%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
61%
Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to global standards, but higher than many Southeast Asian or Eastern European cities.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
54%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are moderate but can be high in expat-favored neighborhoods.
🍎 Food & Groceries
68%
Weight: 40
Local food and groceries are reasonably priced, with some imported goods being expensive.
🚌 Transportation Cost
79%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but fuel and taxis are affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
42%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are limited and often expensive due to cultural restrictions.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
50%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available but can be pricey compared to local average incomes.
💱 Currency Stability
87%
Weight: 30
Saudi Riyal is pegged to the US Dollar, providing strong currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
73%
Weight: 100
Good internet infrastructure with average speeds around 50-70 Mbps in urban areas.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
38%
Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces; the concept is still emerging in Dammam.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
60%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi but the atmosphere is often conservative.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
35%
Weight: 30
Few cafes cater specifically to digital nomads; limited plug points and working space.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
21%
Weight: 100
Dammam is not a popular destination for digital nomads compared to other Middle Eastern cities.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
85%
Weight: 25
Easy to obtain SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
60%
Weight: 30
Work culture is improving but still leans towards traditional office hours.
🌳 Environmental Quality
40%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution and industrial activity affect environmental quality.
🧼 Cleanliness
72%
Weight: 10
Public areas are generally clean due to strict municipal regulations.
🗨️ Language Barrier
45%
Weight: 30
Arabic is dominant; English is spoken in business but limited in daily life.
💨 Air Quality
39%
Weight: 15
Air quality can be poor due to dust storms and industrial emissions.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
60%
Weight: 25
Safe environment but limited entertainment options for children.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
78%
Weight: 20
Good quality healthcare facilities, especially private hospitals.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
65%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is affordable for residents but can be expensive for uninsured foreigners.
🏥 Healthcare
75%
Weight: 20
Access to modern healthcare services is good, with some language barriers.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
70%
Weight: 80
Hot desert climate with very hot summers, mild winters; limited rain.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
85%
Weight: 10
Very low risk of natural disasters like earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
32%
Weight: 10
Few public parks or green spaces within the city.
❄️ Air Conditioning
91%
Weight: 15
Widespread and reliable air conditioning in most buildings.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
20%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; predominantly hot and dry.
🔊 Noise Pollution
55%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels; some areas affected by traffic and construction.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
67%
Weight: 20
Rich Saudi culture with conservative social norms.
🌃 Nightlife
15%
Weight: 15
Very limited nightlife options due to cultural and legal restrictions.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
40%
Weight: 15
Desert landscapes nearby but limited outdoor recreational infrastructure.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
50%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Arabic exist but are limited outside formal settings.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
55%
Weight: 10
Some cultural tours available but less developed than in major tourist cities.
🎳 Indoors Fun
45%
Weight: 10
Shopping malls and cinemas available but limited variety.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
63%
Weight: 25
Good local Middle Eastern cuisine; international options are limited.
🧠 Yoga Studios
28%
Weight: 10
Very few yoga studios due to cultural preferences.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
55%
Weight: 15
Gyms and fitness centers exist but are not widespread.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
57%
Weight: 15
Healthy food options are available but not abundant.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
74%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 is convenient for Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
39%
Weight: 25
Limited professional networking events for digital nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
40%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most remote work is international.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
35%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is nascent and not well established.
🏢 Coworking Quality
32%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces with basic facilities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
48%
Weight: 15
Growing startup ecosystem but centered more in Riyadh and Jeddah.
💳 Local Payment Services
60%
Weight: 10
Good mobile payment options but limited international integration.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
30%
Weight: 15
Regulatory environment cautious; crypto adoption low.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
65%
Weight: 30
King Fahd International Airport offers regional and some international flights.
🚇 Public Transit
25%
Weight: 20
Public transit infrastructure is minimal; mostly reliant on cars.
🚶 Walkability
30%
Weight: 20
City is car-centric with limited pedestrian-friendly areas.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
70%
Weight: 15
Uber and Careem operate reliably in Dammam.
🚲 Cycling
15%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is almost nonexistent; hot climate discourages cycling.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
60%
Weight: 15
Good road connections; limited rail options.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
10%
Weight: 10
No significant scooter or bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
80%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G coverage citywide; 5G rollout ongoing.
🔒 VPN Reliability
55%
Weight: 20
VPNs work but some restrictions and slowdowns occur.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
85%
Weight: 15
Stable electricity supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
40%
Weight: 10
Limited public WiFi; mostly available in malls and cafes.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
50%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas available but digital nomad-specific visas are absent.
📊 Tax Friendliness
80%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax, favorable for freelancers and remote workers.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
20%
Weight: 15
Strict regulations limit freedom of expression.
🏛️ Political Stability
75%
Weight: 20
Stable government with low risk of political unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
40%
Weight: 15
Challenging for foreigners without residency; requires sponsorship.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
55%
Weight: 10
Process improving but still bureaucratic for foreigners.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No digital nomad visa program currently available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
25%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and social acceptance for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
10%
Weight: 25
Very few or no regular digital nomad meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
25%
Weight: 20
Small online presence for nomads in Dammam.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
80%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low crime rates.
♀️ Female Friendly
30%
Weight: 50
Conservative society with restrictions on women's freedoms.
✊ Racial Tolerance
50%
Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance; expats generally accepted but cultural differences exist.