Essentials
- Internet Speed
- Average 105 Mbps (STC 5G widely available)
- Currency & Banking
- Saudi Riyal (SAR). 1 USD ≈ 3.75 SAR
- Tap Water
- Not recommended for drinking; bottled water (Zamzam or commercial brands like Nova) is standard
- Power
- 230V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK style) sockets
- SIM Card
- STC (Sawa), Mobily, and Zain. Available at Jeddah Airport or Makkah Mall for ~100 SAR/month
- Banking for Expats
- Al Rajhi Bank, SNB (AlAhli). Apple Pay and cards are accepted everywhere
- Accommodation
- Hotels via Booking.com; long-term via Gathern or Aqar app
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, Mada (local debit) and credit cards accepted in 95% of establishments
- Short Term Rentals
- Gathern (local Airbnb equivalent), Blueground for furnished apartments
- Budget Accommodation
- Ibis Styles Makkah (~220 SAR/night), Millennium Makkah Al Naseem
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Ajyad or Jabal Omar (proximity to Al-Haram)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Al Naseem or Al Awali (quieter, modern infrastructure, better value)
- City
- Mecca (Makkah), Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia
- Population
- Approximately 2.1 Million
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WhiteSpace (near Makkah Al Mukarramah), though many nomads use Jeddah's spaces like Vibes
- Best Cafe for Work
- Barn’s (Al Awali branch) or Starbucks in Al Abraj for short high-speed sessions
- Networking Events
- Makkah Chamber of Commerce events; Tech meetups usually held in nearby Jeddah (80km away)
- Social Events for Expats
- Expat.com Makkah forum gatherings; community events at Al-Eskan compounds
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Careem, and Kaiian
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Very limited due to heat; some rentals available in private compounds like Al-Balad
- Best Beach Nearby
- Silver Sands Beach, Jeddah (approx. 1 hour drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- Flynas, Flyadeal
- Top International Airline
- Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines)
- Highway Access
- Route 40 (Makkah-Jeddah Highway) and Route 15 (Taif Road)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Haramain High-Speed Railway Station (Al Rusaifah)
- Public Transport Passes
- Makkah Bus (Smart Cards available at kiosks, ~4 SAR per trip)
- Regional Travel
- Haramain Train to Medina (2 hours) or Jeddah (20 mins)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital or King Abdullah Medical City
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- In-hotel spas (Raffles Makkah Palace); dedicated studios are mostly in Jeddah
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Fitness Time (Al Awali), Gold's Gym (Azizia)
- Laundry Services
- Al Jabr Laundry (Multiple locations city-wide)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- HungerStation, Jahez, and ToYou
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Al Baik (Broasted Chicken), Saleeg (Rice & Milk dish)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Hummus Refi, Baskin Robbins, and Indian restaurants in Ajyad
- Best Dessert Spots
- Kunafa Abul Jadaiel, Dip n Dip (Makkah Mall)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Bin Dawood Supermarkets, Souq Al Otaibiyah
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.sa, Noon.com
- Grocery Delivery
- Nana App, LuLu Hypermarket Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- None (Alcohol is strictly prohibited in Saudi Arabia)
- Local Brewery
- Barbican (Non-alcoholic malt beverage) widely available
- Wine Bars
- None (Prohibited); high-end mocktail bars in hotels like Fairmont
- Street Food Stalls
- Mutabbaq and Foul spots in Al-Mansur street
- Popular International Cuisine
- Texas Roadhouse, P.F. Chang's (Jabal Omar area)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Masjid al-Haram, Kaaba, Abraj Al Bait Clock Tower
- Museums & Art Venues
- Clock Tower Museum, Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture
- Historical Sites
- Ghar Hira (Cave of Hira), Jabal Al-Nour, Ghar Thawr
- Religious Sites
- Masjid al-Haram, Mount Arafat, Mina
- Annual Events
- Hajj Season (Dates vary), Ramadan
- Cultural Districts
- Al-Balad (in nearby Jeddah, UNESCO site)
- Theater Venues
- Occasional cultural performances at Makkah Cultural Center
- Local Markets
- Souq Al Khalil, Souq Al-Lail
- Music Scene
- Limited; mostly traditional folk (Ardah) at specific events
- Street Art
- Calligraphy murals around the Holy Mosque perimeter
- Cooking Classes
- Occasionally organized by luxury hotels like the Conrad
- Art Galleries
- Makkah Museum of Antiquity and Heritage
- Historic Buildings
- Al-Saqaf Palace
- Local Heritage
- Deep Islamic tradition; Kiswa (Kaaba cover) making factory
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Taif Mountains (1 hour drive) for cooler weather and greenery
- National Parks Nearby
- Saiysad National Park (Taif)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Walking track at Makkah Al Mukarramah Road
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Top of Jabal Al-Nour (Sunrise views)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Wadi Fatima (Outer Makkah)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Desert camping spots off the Makkah-Madinah highway
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Aramex, SMSA Express, Saudi Post (SPL)
- Tech Repair Services
- Jarir Bookstore (Tech support/repair), Khalid Bin Waleed Street (Jeddah)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Fitness Time Pro centers
- Language Classes
- Umm Al-Qura University (Arabic for non-speakers)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Makkah Haram Library (One of the largest in the region)
- Community Centers
- Neighborhood centers (Markaz Al-Ahya)
- Gaming Lounges
- Glitch (Makkah Mall)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (Prohibited)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 15,000 SAR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 600,000 SAR)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 6,000 SAR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 240,000 SAR)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 14,000 SAR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 840,000 SAR)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 5,500 SAR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 330,000 SAR)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 13,000 SAR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 1,040,000 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 entities; Zakat (2.5%) for Saudi/GCC nationals
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5%
- Tax System
- Territorial; no personal income tax for employees
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 0% (No personal income tax)
- VAT
- 15%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC rules currently enforced
- Property Tax
- White Land Tax (on undeveloped urban land only)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 5% Real Estate Transaction Tax (RETT)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- 0% personal tax, but Makkah and Madinah have specific property ownership restrictions for non-Saudis (usually long-term leasehold only)