Dhahran, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#148
26.296652, 50.120214
Nomad Score:
52%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
52%
Weight: 150
Moderate cost of living compared to other major cities, but still higher than many Southeast Asian destinations.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
48%
Weight: 80
Rental prices can be high, especially for expatriate-friendly areas, but some affordable options exist.
🍎 Food & Groceries
61%
Weight: 40
Food prices are reasonable, with a mix of local and international cuisine available at various price points.
🚌 Transportation Cost
55%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited, but taxis are affordable; however, many rely on personal vehicles.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
42%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are limited and can be expensive, particularly for expatriates.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
50%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are available at various price points, but high-end gyms can be pricey.
💱 Currency Stability
85%
Weight: 30
The Saudi Riyal is pegged to the US Dollar, providing strong currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
78%
Weight: 100
Good internet speeds are available, particularly in urban areas, with fiber-optic options.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
37%
Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces, primarily catering to expatriates and freelancers.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
60%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi, but the atmosphere may not always be conducive to working.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
45%
Weight: 30
Few cafes are specifically tailored for digital nomads, with limited options for long stays.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
25%
Weight: 100
Not a popular destination for digital nomads, with a small community.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
53%
Weight: 30
Work-life balance can vary, with traditional work hours dominating.
🌳 Environmental Quality
65%
Weight: 15
Generally good environmental quality, but urban areas can suffer from pollution.
🧼 Cleanliness
70%
Weight: 10
City maintenance is generally good, with clean public spaces.
🗨️ Language Barrier
40%
Weight: 30
Arabic is the primary language, and English is not widely spoken outside expatriate circles.
💨 Air Quality
50%
Weight: 15
Air quality can be affected by dust storms and industrial activity.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
80%
Weight: 20
High-quality healthcare facilities available, particularly in urban areas.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
60%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is generally affordable, especially for expatriates with insurance.
🏥 Healthcare
80%
Weight: 20
Well-equipped hospitals and clinics are available, with a range of services.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
75%
Weight: 80
Hot summers and mild winters, generally sunny weather year-round.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
65%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters, though occasional sandstorms can occur.
🏞️ Green Spaces
40%
Weight: 10
Limited green spaces available, primarily in parks and recreational areas.
❄️ Air Conditioning
90%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is widely available and essential due to the hot climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
30%
Weight: 10
Limited seasonal variety; primarily hot weather year-round.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
55%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage, but limited cultural activities for expatriates.
🌃 Nightlife
30%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options, primarily focused on restaurants and cafes.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
60%
Weight: 15
Some outdoor activities available, but limited compared to other regions.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
40%
Weight: 10
Limited opportunities for learning Arabic, primarily through private tutors.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
50%
Weight: 10
Some local tours available, but options are limited compared to larger cities.
🎳 Indoors Fun
45%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options, primarily shopping malls.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
65%
Weight: 25
Diverse food scene with a mix of local and international cuisine.
🧠 Yoga Studios
35%
Weight: 10
Few yoga studios available, primarily catering to expatriates.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
50%
Weight: 15
Basic fitness facilities available, but high-end options are limited.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
55%
Weight: 15
Some healthy food options available, but not as prevalent as in other cities.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
60%
Weight: 20
Time zone can be favorable for working with Europe and Asia, but less so for the Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
30%
Weight: 25
Limited networking opportunities for digital nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
40%
Weight: 20
Some remote job opportunities, but not a strong market.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
35%
Weight: 20
Limited freelance ecosystem, primarily focused on local markets.
🏢 Coworking Quality
30%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces, where available, are basic and not well-established.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
40%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup scene, but still in its infancy compared to other regions.
💳 Local Payment Services
65%
Weight: 10
Local payment services are available, but international options are limited.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
20%
Weight: 15
Low adoption of blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
70%
Weight: 30
Good connectivity with major international airports, though limited direct flights.
🚇 Public Transit
40%
Weight: 20
Public transit options are limited; reliance on personal vehicles is common.
🚶 Walkability
35%
Weight: 20
City is not very walkable, with many areas requiring a vehicle.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
50%
Weight: 15
Ride-sharing services are available but not as widespread as in other countries.
🚲 Cycling
20%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure and safety concerns for cyclists.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
55%
Weight: 15
Intercity travel options are available but can be limited.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
25%
Weight: 10
Limited availability of scooter and bike rentals.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
75%
Weight: 20
Good mobile network coverage throughout the city.
🔒 VPN Reliability
60%
Weight: 20
VPNs are generally reliable, but some restrictions may apply.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
80%
Weight: 15
Power grid is generally reliable, with few outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
30%
Weight: 10
Limited public WiFi availability in public spaces.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
40%
Weight: 40
Visa processes can be complex and time-consuming for expatriates.
📊 Tax Friendliness
65%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax, but other fees can apply.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
20%
Weight: 15
Limited freedom of speech and expression.
🏛️ Political Stability
60%
Weight: 20
Generally stable political environment, though regional tensions exist.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
50%
Weight: 15
Opening a bank account can be bureaucratic and time-consuming.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
45%
Weight: 10
Business registration can be complex and slow.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
20%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
30%
Weight: 50
Not particularly friendly for nomads, with limited resources.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
20%
Weight: 25
Very few events or meetups for digital nomads.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
25%
Weight: 20
Limited online community presence for digital nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
75%
Weight: 100
Generally safe city, with low crime rates.
♀️ Female Friendly
50%
Weight: 50
Mixed environment for women; some restrictions exist.
✊ Racial Tolerance
40%
Weight: 50
Tolerance can vary; expatriates may face some challenges.