Khobar Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 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 |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ 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) |
| 👩🎨 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) |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes |
Scenez Cooking Academy |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 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 |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING KHOBAR