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Analytics
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#148
,
Nomad Score:
54%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
61%
Weight: 150
Moderate cost of living compared to major global cities; cheaper than Riyadh or Jeddah but higher than smaller towns.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
54%
Weight: 80
Accommodation is moderately priced; expat compounds and apartments can be costly but local housing is more affordable.
🍎 Food & Groceries
68%
Weight: 40
Local groceries and traditional food are affordable; imported goods and dining out at international restaurants are pricier.
🚌 Transportation Cost
72%
Weight: 20
Fuel is very cheap, but public transportation options are limited, so personal car use is common.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
43%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are limited and often expensive due to recent cultural changes and restrictions.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
57%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available but can be pricey, especially in expat compounds or private clubs.
💱 Currency Stability
89%
Weight: 30
Saudi Riyal is pegged to the US dollar, providing strong currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
76%
Weight: 100
Good internet infrastructure with 4G and growing 5G coverage; fiber-optic available in many areas.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
38%
Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces; mostly in larger cities like Riyadh and Jeddah, fewer options in Dhahran.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
62%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi, but the culture of working from cafes is not widespread.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
35%
Weight: 30
Few cafes cater specifically to digital nomads; limited plug points and working-friendly environments.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
21%
Weight: 100
Very low digital nomad presence; Saudi Arabia is not a common destination for nomads.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
85%
Weight: 25
Easy to obtain SIM cards with good data plans for foreigners.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
50%
Weight: 30
Work culture can be demanding; weekends are Friday-Saturday, providing some balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
55%
Weight: 15
Desert environment with occasional dust storms; air quality can fluctuate.
🧼 Cleanliness
78%
Weight: 10
Public areas and streets are generally clean due to strict regulations.
🗨️ Language Barrier
42%
Weight: 30
Arabic is dominant; English is widely spoken in business and expat communities but can be a barrier.
💨 Air Quality
47%
Weight: 15
Air quality is moderate; dust storms and industrial pollution can reduce air quality periodically.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
60%
Weight: 25
Safe and stable environment but limited entertainment options for children.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
73%
Weight: 20
Good quality healthcare facilities, especially in private hospitals and clinics.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
60%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is affordable for locals; expats often rely on insurance which can be costly.
🏥 Healthcare
70%
Weight: 20
Accessible healthcare with modern facilities, but some specialized treatments require travel.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
79%
Weight: 80
Hot desert climate with very hot summers and mild winters; mostly sunny and dry.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
85%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
32%
Weight: 10
Limited green spaces due to desert environment; some parks exist but are sparse.
❄️ Air Conditioning
91%
Weight: 15
Widespread and efficient air conditioning is standard due to hot climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
28%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; mostly hot year-round with mild winters.
🔊 Noise Pollution
70%
Weight: 10
Generally low noise pollution outside of busy commercial areas.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
65%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage with strong Islamic traditions; conservative social norms.
🌃 Nightlife
20%
Weight: 15
Very limited nightlife options due to cultural and legal restrictions.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
51%
Weight: 15
Desert landscapes offer unique outdoor experiences; limited greenery but opportunities for desert activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
50%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Arabic exist but are limited; few language schools focused on foreigners.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
67%
Weight: 10
Growing tourism sector with desert tours, cultural sites, and historical experiences.
🎳 Indoors Fun
45%
Weight: 10
Indoor entertainment options are limited; malls and cinemas are available but few alternatives.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
69%
Weight: 25
Good variety of Middle Eastern cuisine; international food options growing but still limited.
🧠 Yoga Studios
30%
Weight: 10
Very few yoga studios due to cultural conservatism and limited demand.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
55%
Weight: 15
Gyms and fitness centers exist, mostly in expat compounds and larger residential areas.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
58%
Weight: 15
Healthy food options are available but not widespread; traditional diet is meat and rice heavy.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
74%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 is favorable for working with Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
40%
Weight: 25
Limited networking events for digital nomads; business networking is mostly local and corporate.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
35%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most remote work is international.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
32%
Weight: 20
Freelance culture is nascent; limited platforms and community support locally.
🏢 Coworking Quality
37%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces with basic facilities; not yet developed for digital nomads.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
45%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem in Eastern Province but still small compared to Riyadh or Jeddah.
💳 Local Payment Services
63%
Weight: 10
Growing digital payment infrastructure; cash still common but mobile payments increasing.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
30%
Weight: 15
Limited adoption and regulatory uncertainty around cryptocurrencies.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
68%
Weight: 30
King Fahd International Airport offers good regional and some international connections.
🚇 Public Transit
25%
Weight: 20
Public transit is minimal; most rely on private cars or taxis.
🚶 Walkability
30%
Weight: 20
Urban areas are not very walkable due to heat and city layout.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
65%
Weight: 15
Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem are available and widely used.
🚲 Cycling
20%
Weight: 10
Cycling is uncommon due to heat and lack of infrastructure.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
55%
Weight: 15
Good road network and domestic flights; limited train services.
🛵 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 across the city and region.
🔒 VPN Reliability
40%
Weight: 20
VPN use is common but some restrictions and occasional slowdowns exist.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
87%
Weight: 15
Stable and reliable power supply with few outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
45%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is limited mostly to malls and some cafes.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
50%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas are easier to obtain now; work visas remain strict.
📊 Tax Friendliness
85%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax, favorable for freelancers and remote workers.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
20%
Weight: 15
Strict limitations on freedom of speech and expression.
🏛️ Political Stability
78%
Weight: 20
Stable government with low risk of political unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
40%
Weight: 15
Difficult for foreigners without residency; requires sponsorship and documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
55%
Weight: 10
Improving processes but still bureaucratic and requires local partnerships.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available as of mid-2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
25%
Weight: 50
Not traditionally nomad-friendly due to cultural and legal restrictions.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
10%
Weight: 25
Very few or no digital nomad-specific events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
28%
Weight: 20
Limited online communities focused on Dhahran or Eastern Province digital nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
83%
Weight: 100
Generally very safe with low crime rates.
♀️ Female Friendly
30%
Weight: 50
Conservative society with restrictions on women's freedoms and dress codes.
✊ Racial Tolerance
50%
Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance; expats are common but some social segregation exists.