Essentials
- City
- NEOM, Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia
- Population
- Approx. 60,000 (growing rapidly with construction workforce and early residents)
- Internet Speed
- Hyper-connected 5G and fiber; average 500+ Mbps in residential hubs
- Currency & Banking
- Saudi Riyal (SAR); 1 USD ≈ 3.75 SAR (fixed peg)
- Tap Water
- Technically drinkable via advanced desalination, but bottled/filtered water like 'NEOM Water' is preferred
- Power
- 230V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK style) sockets
- SIM Card
- STC (Saudi Telecom Company) NEOM Edition, Zain, or Mobily; approx. 200 SAR for 100GB
- Banking for Expats
- SNB (Saudi National Bank), Al Rajhi Bank, and digital-first STC Pay
- Accommodation
- Corporate housing compounds and serviced apartments in 'NEOM Community' zones
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, 100% cashless environment with Mada, Apple Pay, and Visa/Mastercard
- Short Term Rentals
- Limited to official NEOM guest hubs and specialized corporate booking portals
- Budget Accommodation
- Shared staff housing modules; minimal public 'budget' options currently
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Sindalah Island (Luxury Resort District) or Leyja
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- NEOM Community 1 or 2 (NC1/NC2) residential hubs
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Line Experience Center Hub (Free for residents/partners)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Barn’s Coffee (NC1 Branch) - features high-speed Wi-Fi and ergonomic seating
- Networking Events
- NEOM Sector Summits (Energy, Water, Tech) held monthly at the Oxagon HQ
- Social Events for Expats
- NEOM Community Recreation Club 'Thursday Nights' Social
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Careem (NEOM specialized fleet) or the NEOM internal shuttle system
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Tier Electric Scooters available at NC1 and NC2 hubs
- Best Beach Nearby
- Sindalah Beach Club (Accessible via shuttle from NEOM Bay)
- Top Regional Airline
- Saudia (Direct flights Neo-Riyadh, Neo-Jeddah)
- Top International Airline
- Qatar Airways (Direct to Doha) or Flyadeal
- Highway Access
- Highway 5 (Red Sea Coastal Road) connecting to Jordan and Duba
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- The Spine (High-speed rail connecting the modules of The Line)
- Public Transport Passes
- NEOM Digital ID (unified pass for all autonomous shuttles)
- Regional Travel
- Short flights to AlUla (45 mins) or Tabuk by shuttle
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- NEOM Hospital (Managed by Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital Group)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Movement Studio (NC2) - classes approx. 70 SAR per session
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- NEOM Community Fitness Center (State-of-the-art, free for residents)
- Laundry Services
- Laundrapp NEOM (Mobile pickup and delivery service)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- HungerStation or Jahez (serving the NC1/NC2 communities)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Saudi Kabsa or regional seafood 'Sayadieh' from local Red Sea catch
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Green Kitchen (NC1) - specializing in hydroponic salads
- Best Dessert Spots
- Magnolia Bakery (NEOM Popup) and local Date-based treats
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- NEOM Community Commissary (Subsidized prices for residents)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.sa and Noon.com (Next-day delivery to NEOM hubs)
- Grocery Delivery
- Nana App - specifically for NC1/NC2 residential drops
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Sindalah (Licensed venues for international travelers - strictly regulated)
- Local Brewery
- N/A (Alcohol is restricted; focus on high-end Mocktail bars like 'The Botanist')
- Wine Bars
- N/A (Non-alcoholic sparkling juice bars in luxury resorts)
- Street Food Stalls
- Truck Area near NC2 (Local Shawarma and Falafel)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Wagamama (NC1) and local high-end Italian options in Sindalah
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Sine construction site and Sindalah Island
- Museums & Art Venues
- The Line Gallery (Interactive urban planning exhibition)
- Historical Sites
- Midian Tombs (Magha’er Shu’ayb) in nearby Al-Bad
- Religious Sites
- Al-Bad' Mosque (Historic district)
- Annual Events
- NEOM Beach Games (October/November)
- Cultural Districts
- Sharma Village (Traditional fishing village nearby)
- Theater Venues
- NEOM Media Village Cinema & Auditiorium
- Local Markets
- Duba Souq (45 mins drive for traditional spices and gold)
- Music Scene
- MDLBEAST NEOM sessions (Electronic music events)
- Street Art
- Sustainability Murals in Community Hub 1
- Cooking Classes
- NEOM Culinary Arts Center (Focus on sustainable desert cooking)
- Art Galleries
- Desert X NEOM (Outdoor temporary installations)
- Historic Buildings
- Castle of King Abdulaziz in nearby Duba
- Local Heritage
- Bedouin hospitality heritage of the Tabuk region
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Wadi Tayyib Al-Ism (Magnificent granite canyon by the sea)
- National Parks Nearby
- Hisma Desert (Red sand dunes and rock formations)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- NEOM Bay Loop (10km dedicated coastal path)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Mount Maqla (Real Jabal al-Lawz) for snow views in winter
- Birdwatching Locations
- Red Sea Mangroves near Sharma
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Desert Camp Zone (Regulated bonfire pits for residents)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Aramex NEOM Hub, DHL Express
- Tech Repair Services
- Jarir Bookstore Tech Support (Tabuk/Online Delivery)
- Table Tennis Spots
- NC1 Resident Lounge
- Language Classes
- Arabic for Expats program at NEOM Academy
- Libraries & Study Spots
- NEOM Community Library (NC1)
- Community Centers
- The Square (NC2 central meeting point)
- Gaming Lounges
- NEOM Esports Hub
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- N/A (Prohibited)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- N/A (Currently lease-only for residents; projected €12,000 per m² in The Line)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 400,000 SAR in Tabuk City (€2,500/m² equivalent)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- N/A (Special investment zones under development)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 600,000 SAR in Duba/Tabuk areas
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- N/A (Exclusive to long-term NEOM leaseholders)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 850,000 SAR in residential Tabuk
- Corporate Tax
- 20% (Special 0% incentives for NEOM-registered entities for 50 years)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5% (May be waived within NEOM Economic Zone)
- Tax System
- Territorial/Incentive-based within the NEOM Authority jurisdiction
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 0% Personal Income Tax for individuals
- VAT
- 15% (Standard KSA rate; potential exemptions in NEOM zones)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- None currently for individual residents
- Property Tax
- Zero property tax; White Land Tax may apply to undeveloped plots
- Property Transaction Tax
- 5% Real Estate Transaction Tax (RETT)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Yes, 0% personal income tax and special residency permits (Premium Residency)