Dammam, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#143
,
Nomad Score:
54%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
61%
Weight: 150
Moderate cost of living compared to major Saudi cities like Riyadh and Jeddah; more affordable than many Western cities.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
54%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are moderate but can be high in expat-favored neighborhoods; options range from apartments to villas.
🍎 Food & Groceries
67%
Weight: 40
Local markets and supermarkets offer affordable groceries; dining out is moderately priced with many local and international options.
🚌 Transportation Cost
78%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but taxis and ride-hailing apps are affordable; fuel prices are low.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
50%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are limited and often expensive; cinemas and malls are main venues.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
62%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available with reasonable monthly fees, though premium facilities can be costly.
💱 Currency Stability
85%
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 100 Mbps; fiber-optic available in many areas.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
41%
Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces compared to larger cities; some business centers and shared offices exist.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
60%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer WiFi, but quality and speed can vary.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
45%
Weight: 30
Few cafes specifically cater to digital nomads; work-friendly environments are limited.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
23%
Weight: 100
Dammam is not a popular destination for digital nomads compared to other Middle Eastern cities.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
85%
Weight: 25
SIM cards are easy to obtain with valid ID; good coverage and affordable plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
57%
Weight: 30
Work culture is traditional with long hours; recent reforms improving work-life balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
48%
Weight: 15
Industrial activity affects air quality; coastal location offers some natural relief.
🧼 Cleanliness
65%
Weight: 10
Public areas and streets are generally clean due to government efforts.
🗨️ Language Barrier
39%
Weight: 30
Arabic is dominant; English is spoken in business and tourist areas but limited elsewhere.
💨 Air Quality
42%
Weight: 15
Air pollution from industry and dust storms can reduce air quality periodically.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
60%
Weight: 25
Safe environment with family-oriented culture; limited entertainment options for children.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
70%
Weight: 20
Good quality healthcare facilities with modern hospitals and clinics.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
68%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is affordable for residents; private insurance recommended for expats.
🏥 Healthcare
70%
Weight: 20
Accessible healthcare with both public and private options available.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
79%
Weight: 80
Hot desert climate with very hot summers and mild winters; mostly sunny year-round.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
87%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
34%
Weight: 10
Limited green parks and recreational areas within the city.
❄️ Air Conditioning
90%
Weight: 15
Widespread use of air conditioning in homes, offices, and public spaces.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
21%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; predominantly hot climate year-round.
🔊 Noise Pollution
55%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels; traffic and construction contribute but not excessive.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
63%
Weight: 20
Rich Saudi Arabian culture with traditional and Islamic influences; limited nightlife.
🌃 Nightlife
20%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is very limited due to cultural and legal restrictions.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
50%
Weight: 15
Coastal access offers some outdoor activities; desert landscapes nearby.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
40%
Weight: 10
Limited formal language schools; informal opportunities to learn Arabic exist.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
55%
Weight: 10
Some cultural tours and desert excursions available; tourism infrastructure is developing.
🎳 Indoors Fun
47%
Weight: 10
Shopping malls and cinemas provide indoor entertainment options.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
64%
Weight: 25
Good variety of Middle Eastern and international cuisine; food quality is generally high.
🧠 Yoga Studios
32%
Weight: 10
Very limited availability of yoga studios due to cultural factors.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
58%
Weight: 15
Gyms and fitness centers are available but not widespread.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
60%
Weight: 15
Healthy food options are available but not as diverse as in Western cities.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
75%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 time zone is favorable for working with Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
43%
Weight: 25
Limited networking events for digital nomads; business networking mostly local and traditional.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
37%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most opportunities come from international companies.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
35%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is small and not well established.
🏢 Coworking Quality
38%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces exist; quality varies and lacks modern amenities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
40%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem with government support but still nascent.
💳 Local Payment Services
65%
Weight: 10
Good availability of local payment options and mobile wallets.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
30%
Weight: 15
Limited adoption and regulatory clarity around cryptocurrencies.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
67%
Weight: 30
King Fahd International Airport offers good regional and some international connections.
🚇 Public Transit
28%
Weight: 20
Public transportation infrastructure is minimal; reliance on cars is high.
🚶 Walkability
31%
Weight: 20
City is car-centric with limited pedestrian-friendly areas.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
72%
Weight: 15
Popular ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem widely used and reliable.
🚲 Cycling
20%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is almost non-existent; hot climate discourages cycling.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
55%
Weight: 15
Good road network; limited rail services; domestic flights available.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
15%
Weight: 10
Very limited or no scooter/bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
80%
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 government regulations.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
85%
Weight: 15
Stable and reliable electricity supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
40%
Weight: 10
Limited public WiFi hotspots; mostly available in malls and cafes.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
55%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas are easier to obtain recently; work visas require sponsorship.
📊 Tax Friendliness
78%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax; corporate tax applies mainly to foreign companies.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
20%
Weight: 15
Strict regulations on speech and expression; limited freedom compared to Western standards.
🏛️ Political Stability
70%
Weight: 20
Stable government with low risk of political unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
45%
Weight: 15
Opening bank accounts can be bureaucratic and requires residency.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
50%
Weight: 10
Business registration processes are improving but still involve significant paperwork.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available as of 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
30%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and community support for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
15%
Weight: 25
Very few or no regular digital nomad meetups or events.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
32%
Weight: 20
Small online presence for digital nomads in Dammam.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
75%
Weight: 100
Generally safe city with low crime rates; cultural norms enhance personal safety.
♀️ Female Friendly
30%
Weight: 50
Cultural restrictions and gender segregation limit female freedom compared to Western norms.
✊ Racial Tolerance
50%
Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance; expatriate communities coexist but some social segregation exists.