Dhahran, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#148
,
Nomad Score:
59%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to global standards; lower than major Western cities but higher than many Southeast Asian or South American cities.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
63%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are moderate but can be high in expat-favored neighborhoods; limited options for short-term rentals.
🍎 Food & Groceries
78%
Weight: 40
Local food and groceries are affordable; imported goods and dining at international restaurants are pricier.
🚌 Transportation Cost
85%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but taxis and ride-hailing are affordable; fuel prices are low.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
52%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are limited and often expensive due to cultural restrictions.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
60%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available but membership fees are moderate to high compared to local income levels.
💱 Currency Stability
90%
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 with average speeds around 100 Mbps.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
41%
Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces; mostly concentrated in major cities like Riyadh and Jeddah rather than Dhahran.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
65%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi but the atmosphere is more conservative and less digital nomad-oriented.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
43%
Weight: 30
Few cafes cater specifically to digital nomads; limited plug points and working space.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
27%
Weight: 100
Dhahran is not a popular destination for digital nomads compared to other Middle Eastern hubs.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
87%
Weight: 25
Easy to obtain with good coverage and affordable plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
68%
Weight: 30
Work culture is traditional with long hours, but recent reforms are improving work-life balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
54%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution and dust storms affect air quality; limited green initiatives.
🧼 Cleanliness
72%
Weight: 10
Public areas are generally clean due to strict regulations and maintenance.
🗨️ Language Barrier
49%
Weight: 30
Arabic is dominant; English is widely spoken in business but less so in everyday life.
💨 Air Quality
45%
Weight: 15
Air quality is often poor due to desert dust and industrial activity.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
60%
Weight: 25
Safe environment but limited entertainment options for families.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
76%
Weight: 20
Good quality healthcare facilities, especially private hospitals, but limited compared to global top-tier.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
69%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is affordable for residents; expats may face higher costs without insurance.
🏥 Healthcare
73%
Weight: 20
Accessible healthcare with modern facilities, though some specialized treatments require travel.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
87%
Weight: 80
Hot desert climate with very sunny days; winters are mild and pleasant.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
95%
Weight: 10
Very low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, or hurricanes.
🏞️ Green Spaces
38%
Weight: 10
Limited green spaces and parks due to desert environment.
❄️ Air Conditioning
98%
Weight: 15
Widespread and reliable air conditioning in homes, offices, and public spaces.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
21%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; consistently hot with mild winters.
🔊 Noise Pollution
73%
Weight: 10
Generally low noise pollution outside of industrial areas.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
64%
Weight: 20
Rich traditional Saudi culture with limited cultural diversity and entertainment options.
🌃 Nightlife
15%
Weight: 15
Very limited nightlife due to cultural and legal restrictions.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
50%
Weight: 15
Desert landscapes offer unique outdoor experiences but limited greenery or water-based activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
56%
Weight: 10
Arabic language schools exist but limited options for casual language exchange.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
62%
Weight: 10
Some cultural and desert tours available; tourism infrastructure is developing.
🎳 Indoors Fun
40%
Weight: 10
Indoor entertainment options are limited; cinemas and malls are main venues.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
74%
Weight: 25
Good variety of Middle Eastern cuisine; international options are fewer but growing.
🧠 Yoga Studios
32%
Weight: 10
Very limited yoga studios due to cultural norms.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
57%
Weight: 15
Gyms and fitness centers exist but are less widespread and sometimes gender-segregated.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
68%
Weight: 15
Healthy food options available but not as diverse as in Western cities.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
79%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 is favorable for working with Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
44%
Weight: 25
Limited networking events for digital nomads; more opportunities in larger Saudi cities.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
39%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most rely on international remote work.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
35%
Weight: 20
Freelancing is growing but still nascent with limited local support.
🏢 Coworking Quality
37%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces with basic facilities; not yet fully developed.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
50%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem in Saudi Arabia but less active in Dhahran.
💳 Local Payment Services
61%
Weight: 10
Good mobile payment and banking infrastructure but limited international integration.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
40%
Weight: 15
Regulatory environment cautious; crypto use is limited and controlled.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
67%
Weight: 30
King Fahd International Airport offers decent connectivity but fewer direct international flights.
🚇 Public Transit
28%
Weight: 20
Public transportation is minimal; most rely on private cars or taxis.
🚶 Walkability
31%
Weight: 20
Urban layout and climate limit walkability; pedestrian infrastructure is basic.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
74%
Weight: 15
Uber and local ride-hailing services are widely available and affordable.
🚲 Cycling
20%
Weight: 10
Cycling is uncommon due to heat, lack of infrastructure, and cultural norms.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
63%
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
83%
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 controls.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
89%
Weight: 15
Stable and reliable electricity supply with minimal outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
47%
Weight: 10
Limited public WiFi hotspots; mostly available in malls and airports.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
55%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas are easier to obtain now; work visas remain restrictive.
📊 Tax Friendliness
88%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax, making it attractive financially.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
23%
Weight: 15
Strict regulations limit freedom of speech and expression.
🏛️ Political Stability
76%
Weight: 20
Stable government with low risk of political unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
48%
Weight: 15
Challenging for foreigners; requires residency and documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
60%
Weight: 10
Improving but still bureaucratic and time-consuming for foreigners.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available as of 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
32%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and community support for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
21%
Weight: 25
Very few digital nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
35%
Weight: 20
Small online presence for digital nomads in Dhahran.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
84%
Weight: 100
Generally very safe with low crime rates.
♀️ Female Friendly
30%
Weight: 50
Cultural restrictions and gender segregation limit female freedom.
✊ Racial Tolerance
55%
Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance; expats generally accepted but some social barriers exist.