Essentials
- SIM Card
- STC (Sawa), Mobily, and Zain. A 50GB data plan costs roughly 170 SAR ($45)
- Banking for Expats
- Al Rajhi Bank, SNB (AlAhli), and digital banks like STC Pay or Meem are popular for expats
- Accommodation
- Mix of luxury hotels near the Haram and modern apartments in residential districts like Al Azhari
- Cashless Friendly
- Highly cashless; Mada (local scheme), Apple Pay, and Visa/Mastercard are accepted even in small shops
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb is available but limited; Gathern is the primary local app for short-term villas and apartments
- Budget Accommodation
- Ruve Al Madinah or various 3-star hotels in the Bada'ah area (approx. 200-300 SAR/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Central Area (Markaziyah) surrounding Al-Masjid an-Nabawi for immediate access to the Holy Mosque
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Al-Hada or Al-Azhari neighborhoods; they offer better value, modern cafes, and less pilgrimage traffic
- City
- Medina (Al Madinah Al Munawwarah), Hejaz Region, Saudi Arabia
- Population
- Approximately 1,545,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 5G speeds of 250 Mbps; Fiber optic broadband widely available at 100+ Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- Saudi Riyal (SAR). 1 USD ≈ 3.75 SAR (fixed peg). 1 EUR ≈ 4.05 SAR
- Tap Water
- Generally not recommended for drinking; most residents use bottled water (e.g., Nova, Berain) or desalinated gallon delivery
- Power
- 230V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK style) sockets are the standard
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Work&Co (Prince Nayef Bin Abdulaziz Rd) - Daily passes approx. 100 SAR; Monthly approx. 1,500 SAR
- Best Cafe for Work
- Barn's (various locations) or Dose Cafe on Sultana Road; high-speed Wi-Fi and laptop-friendly seating
- Networking Events
- Startup Hub Madinah events and Monsha'at (SME Authority) workshops at the Madinah Chambers
- Social Events for Expats
- Internal compound social gatherings (e.g., Knowledge Economic City residential areas) and InterNations Medina group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Careem are the primary services; Kaiian is a popular local alternative
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Careem BIKE (mostly around the Haram and specific walkways like Quba Front)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Yanbu Al-Bahr (approx. 2.5 hours drive), known for world-class Red Sea diving
- Top Regional Airline
- flyadeal or Flynas (low-cost carriers with frequent domestic flights)
- Top International Airline
- Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines) - major hub at Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport (MED)
- Highway Access
- Highway 15 (South to Makkah) and Highway 60 (West to Yanbu)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Madinah Haramain High-Speed Railway Station (connects to Jeddah/Makkah in under 2 hours)
- Public Transport Passes
- SAPTCO Madinah City Bus; fares are usually 3.45 SAR per ride via the 'SAPTCO' app
- Regional Travel
- Haramain High-Speed Train (approx. 150 SAR to Jeddah); SAPTCO VIP buses for longer distances
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Mouwasat Hospital (Airport Road) or Dr. Erfan & Bagedo General Hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Soul Aura (Female only) or generic wellness programs in high-end hotels like the Oberoi
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Fitness Time (PRO and Junior branches) - Monthly memberships approx. 400-600 SAR
- Laundry Services
- Clean Line or local neighborhood 'Maghsala' (approx. 3-5 SAR per shirt)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- HungerStation, Jahez, and Mrsool (for anything delivery)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Madini Rice (Roz Al-Madini) or Saleem (lamb and wheat porridge)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Moon Shell (plant-based bowls/smoothies) - Sultana Road
- Best Dessert Spots
- Rotana Patisserie or any local shop selling 'Ajwa' dates (Medina's specialty)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Al-Madinah International Mall or the Old Bazaar (Souq Al-Manakha)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.sa and Noon.com are the market leaders
- Grocery Delivery
- Nana or PandaClick (HyperPanda app)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- None (Alcohol is strictly prohibited). Coffee shop culture on Sultana Road is the 'nightlife'
- Local Brewery
- Non-alcoholic malt beverage shops like Barbican or Moussy (widely available)
- Wine Bars
- Not applicable (Strictly prohibited/illegal)
- Street Food Stalls
- Quba Walkway (Darb Al Sunnah) - various stalls selling Balila and grilled corn
- Popular International Cuisine
- Piatto (Italian) or Steak House on Abu Bakr Al Siddiq Road
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) and Mount Uhud
- Museums & Art Venues
- The International Fair and Museum of the Prophet's Biography; Dar Al Madinah Museum
- Historical Sites
- The Seven Mosques and the site of the Battle of the Trench
- Religious Sites
- Quba Mosque (first mosque in Islam) and Masjid al-Qiblatayn
- Annual Events
- Madinah Dates Festival (August/September) and Saudi National Day (Sept 23rd)
- Cultural Districts
- Quba Front (modern walkway/shopping/heritage area)
- Theater Venues
- Cultural events at the King Salman International Convention Center
- Local Markets
- Central Dates Market (Al-Anabiya)
- Music Scene
- Limited; occasional traditional 'Ardha' performances during festivals/Eid
- Street Art
- Murals along the Quba Walkway and various modern installations in Al-Rashid Mega Mall
- Cooking Classes
- Occasional workshops at the Vocational Training Institute or private culinary studios
- Art Galleries
- Medina Arts Center (Hejaz Railway Station area)
- Historic Buildings
- Hejaz Railway Museum (reconstructed Ottoman-era station)
- Local Heritage
- The 'Madini' architectural style seen in the doors and windows of rehabilitated historic areas
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Al-Baida Park (Wild White Park) - popular for desert camping and geological formations
- National Parks Nearby
- Mount Uhud Nature Reserve and the King Fahd Park
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The 3km Quba Walkway (Darb Al-Sunnah) connecting the Prophet's Mosque to Quba Mosque
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The summit of Mount Uhud for a panoramic view of the city
- Birdwatching Locations
- Wadi Al-Aqiq during the rainy season when greenery is lush
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated desert camping areas in Al-Mandaq or Al-Baida
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Aramex, SMSA Express, and SPL (Saudi Post)
- Tech Repair Services
- Jarir Bookstore (for authorized repairs) or the Khalidiyah mobile market for quick fixes
- Table Tennis Spots
- Leading sports clubs like Ohud Club or Al-Ansar Club facilities
- Language Classes
- Arabic For All or the Islamic University of Madinah's language programs
- Libraries & Study Spots
- King Abdulaziz Library (near the Prophet's Mosque) or the Library of the Prophet's Mosque
- Community Centers
- Neighborhood Clubs (Lajnah Al-Tanmiyah) supported by the Ministry of HRSD
- Gaming Lounges
- Glitch (Al Rashid Mega Mall) or G-Spot Gaming Center
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Not available (Illegal/strictly prohibited)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. SAR 12,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = SAR 500,000). Note: Non-Saudi ownership restricted in Medina center.
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. SAR 6,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = SAR 240,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. SAR 11,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = SAR 660,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. SAR 5,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = SAR 330,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. SAR 10,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = SAR 800,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. SAR 5,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = SAR 400,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 20% for foreign entities; 2.5% Zakat for Saudi/GCC nationals
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5%
- Tax System
- Territorial tax system for foreigners; no personal income tax for employees
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 0% (There is no personal income tax on salaries in KSA)
- VAT
- 15% standard rate
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC rules, but strict anti-avoidance measures by ZATCA
- Property Tax
- No annual property tax on residential units; 'White Land Tax' applies to undeveloped urban land
- Property Transaction Tax
- 5% Real Estate Transaction Tax (RETT) per sale
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- 0% income tax is highly attractive, though specific 'Nomad' visas are evolving through the Premium Residency Portal