Culture and Attractions
- Cooking Classes
- Scenez Cooking Academy
- Art Galleries
- Desert Designs (Concept store and gallery)
- Historic Buildings
- Found primarily in nearby Dammam or the old Al Aqrabiyah district
- Local Heritage
- Pearl diving history and Bedouin hospitality (Gahwa coffee rituals)
- Must-See Landmarks
- Khobar Water Tower and the King Fahd Causeway
- Museums & Art Venues
- Ithra (King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture) - 15 mins away in Dhahran
- Historical Sites
- Dammam Heritage Village (Nearby) or Al-Ahsa Oasis (90 mins drive)
- Religious Sites
- Prince Saud bin Naif Mosque
- Annual Events
- Sharqiah Season (Cultural festival with concerts and events)
- Cultural Districts
- Al Khobar North (Art galleries and graffiti)
- Theater Venues
- Ithra Theater (World-class performances)
- Local Markets
- Suq Al-Hob (Love Market) in nearby Dammam
- Music Scene
- Emerging scene at Ithra; live music in upscale restaurants like Ajdan Walk
- Street Art
- Bayoonya District (Outdoor murals of the 'Art Al Khobar' project)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Al-Asfar Lake (Yellow Lake) near Al-Ahsa
- National Parks Nearby
- Al-Ahsa National Park
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Khobar Corniche walkway (approx. 10km stretch)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Khobar Water Tower observation deck
- Birdwatching Locations
- Tarout Island mangroves (30 mins north)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated desert camping spots in Half Moon Bay dunes
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Aramex, SMSA Express, and DHL
- Tech Repair Services
- Jarir Bookstore (Official service) or shops in Al Dossary Mall (Tech hub)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Social centers in Aramco Camp (if accessible) or private sports clubs
- Language Classes
- Berlitz Al Khobar or Arabius (Specialized in Saudi dialect)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Ithra Library (Most modern library in the country)
- Community Centers
- Khobar Hub (Global Shapers community location)
- Gaming Lounges
- Glitch (Gaming and entertainment hub)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (Illegal)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 9,000 SAR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 360,000 SAR)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 6,500 SAR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 260,000 SAR)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 8,500 SAR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 510,000 SAR)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 6,000 SAR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 360,000 SAR)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 7,500 SAR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 600,000 SAR)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 5,000 SAR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 400,000 SAR)
- Corporate Tax
- 20% (for foreign investors; Zakat for locals)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5%
- Tax System
- Territorial; no personal income tax for individuals
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 0%
- VAT
- 15% (Standard rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- None currently established for individuals
- Property Tax
- No residential property tax, but 2.5% 'White Land Tax' on undeveloped plots
- Property Transaction Tax
- 5% Real Estate Transaction Tax (RETT)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- 0% personal tax on income; Premium Residency options for long-term stay
Essentials
- City
- Khobar, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
- Population
- Approx. 650,000
- Internet Speed
- Avg. 150 Mbps (5G widely available via STC and Mobily)
- Currency & Banking
- Saudi Riyal (SAR). 1 USD ≈ 3.75 SAR (Fixed Peg)
- Tap Water
- Not recommended for drinking; use bottled water (e.g., Arwa or Nova, 2 SAR per 0.5L)
- Power
- 230V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK style) sockets
- SIM Card
- STC (Sawa), Mobily, or Zain. Visit Al Rashid Mall for kiosks. Approx. 115 SAR for 30GB
- Banking for Expats
- Al Rajhi Bank, SNB (AlAhli), and digital banks like STC Pay or Meem
- Accommodation
- Gaby Furnished Apartments, Ascott Corniche Al Khobar (High-end), or Bayat Hotel
- Cashless Friendly
- Highly cashless; Apple Pay and MADA cards accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (limited), Gathern (local platform for chalets/apartments)
- Budget Accommodation
- Rose Shell Hotel (approx. 250 SAR/night), OYO 431 Al Diyafa
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Al Khobar Corniche / Al Yarmouk (Walking distance to sea and restaurants)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Al Bandariyah or Al Hada (Close to coworking spaces and cafes)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Work & Co (Al Khobar South) – Day pass approx. 100 SAR
- Best Cafe for Work
- Brew92 (Al Yarmouk) or Dr. Cafe (Corniche) – High-speed WiFi and plentiful outlets
- Networking Events
- Startup Grind Al Khobar, events at Dhahran Techno Valley
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Al Khobar Chapter, Desert Ramblers (Hiking group)
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Careem (local favorite), and Kaiian
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Hop (Electric scooters) available along the Corniche
- Best Beach Nearby
- Half Moon Bay (25 mins drive) – Private resorts like Dana Beach Resort
- Top Regional Airline
- Flynas or Flyadeal (Budget carriers)
- Top International Airline
- Saudia (National carrier) or Qatar Airways (via DMM)
- Highway Access
- Dhahran-Jubail Expressway and King Fahd Causeway to Bahrain
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Dammam Railway Station (15 mins away) for trains to Riyadh
- Public Transport Passes
- SAPTCO buses (Mostly point-to-point, not pass-based)
- Regional Travel
- SAPTCO VIP Bus to Bahrain (approx. 100 SAR) or Train to Riyadh (2.5 hours)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital (Al Bandar) or Mouwasat Hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Pura Vida (Al Khobar) or Soul Community
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Fitness Time (Multiple locations), PureGym (Ladies only options available)
- Laundry Services
- Clean Line Laundry or specialized services found in Al Aqrabiyah
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- HungerStation, Jahez, and Mrsool
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Kabsa (Rice and meat) at Al Romansiah or Najd Village
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Wabi Sabi (Plant-based) or Moon Shell (Vegan desserts)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Over Jar (Al Khobar Corniche) or Patis France
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Lulu Hypermarket or Tamimi Markets
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.sa, Noon.com
- Grocery Delivery
- Nana or Instashop
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- No alcohol (illegal). 'Nightlife' centers around Al Khobar Corniche cafes
- Local Brewery
- Non-alcoholic beer only (Barbican or Budweiser 0.0)
- Wine Bars
- None (Illegal). Creative mocktail bars like Mocktail Republic exist
- Street Food Stalls
- Thoq Al-Mandi or local trucks at Khobar Front
- Popular International Cuisine
- Piatto (Italian), Texas de Brazil (Churrascaria) at Ajdan Walk