Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#141
,
Nomad Score:
58%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
52%
Weight: 150
Moderate cost of living; cheaper than many Western cities but higher than other Middle Eastern cities due to rapid development.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
47%
Weight: 80
Accommodation in central Riyadh is relatively expensive, especially for furnished apartments; outskirts offer more affordable options.
🍎 Food & Groceries
61%
Weight: 40
Local food and groceries are reasonably priced; imported goods can be costly.
🚌 Transportation Cost
78%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but affordable; taxis and ride-hailing services are moderately priced.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
43%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are growing but still limited; prices for cinemas and events are moderate to high.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
55%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are moderately priced but vary widely depending on facilities.
💱 Currency Stability
89%
Weight: 30
Saudi Riyal is pegged to the US dollar, providing strong currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
76%
Weight: 100
Good internet infrastructure with widespread 5G and fiber-optic availability in urban areas.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
64%
Weight: 40
Growing number of coworking spaces, especially in business districts.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
71%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer reliable WiFi, though some have restrictions on usage.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
59%
Weight: 30
Limited number of cafes specifically catering to digital nomads, but improving.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
32%
Weight: 100
Not yet a popular destination for digital nomads compared to other global cities.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
86%
Weight: 25
Easy to obtain local SIM cards with good data plans for tourists and residents.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
50%
Weight: 30
Work culture can be demanding; weekends on Friday-Saturday may affect work-life rhythm.
🌳 Environmental Quality
41%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution and dust storms affect environmental quality negatively.
🧼 Cleanliness
73%
Weight: 10
City is generally clean with active municipal services.
🗨️ Language Barrier
48%
Weight: 30
Arabic is dominant; English is widely spoken in business and tourist areas but can be a barrier.
💨 Air Quality
37%
Weight: 15
Frequent dust storms and urban pollution reduce air quality.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
60%
Weight: 25
Family-oriented culture with good schools and healthcare but limited entertainment for children.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
79%
Weight: 20
High-quality healthcare facilities, especially private hospitals.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
62%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is affordable for residents; expats may face higher costs without insurance.
🏥 Healthcare
75%
Weight: 20
Comprehensive healthcare system with modern hospitals and clinics.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
84%
Weight: 80
Hot desert climate with very hot summers and mild winters; very sunny most of the year.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
91%
Weight: 10
Very low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, or hurricanes.
🏞️ Green Spaces
39%
Weight: 10
Limited green spaces within the city; some parks but overall sparse vegetation.
❄️ Air Conditioning
95%
Weight: 15
Widespread and reliable air conditioning is standard due to hot climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
21%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; predominantly hot and dry year-round.
🔊 Noise Pollution
50%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise pollution from traffic and construction in urban areas.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
74%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage with strong Islamic traditions; conservative social norms.
🌃 Nightlife
33%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is limited due to cultural and legal restrictions; recent reforms are slowly changing this.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
45%
Weight: 15
Desert landscapes nearby but limited natural outdoor recreational areas within city.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
57%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Arabic exist but are limited compared to larger global cities.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
68%
Weight: 10
Growing tourism sector with cultural tours and desert excursions.
🎳 Indoors Fun
54%
Weight: 10
Shopping malls and cinemas provide indoor entertainment options.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
72%
Weight: 25
Diverse food scene with traditional Saudi cuisine and international options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
36%
Weight: 10
Limited availability of yoga studios due to cultural factors.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
58%
Weight: 15
Gyms and fitness centers are available but not widespread.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
60%
Weight: 15
Healthy food options are available but not as prevalent as in Western cities.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
69%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 time zone is convenient for Europe, Middle East, and parts of Asia but less so for Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
63%
Weight: 25
Business networking is growing, especially in tech and startup sectors.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
41%
Weight: 20
Limited local remote job market; most opportunities come from international companies.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
39%
Weight: 20
Freelancing is not yet mainstream; regulatory environment is evolving.
🏢 Coworking Quality
60%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are modern but fewer in number compared to major global hubs.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
67%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem supported by government initiatives.
💳 Local Payment Services
74%
Weight: 10
Good availability of digital payment options and mobile wallets.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
42%
Weight: 15
Blockchain interest is growing but crypto regulations remain restrictive.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
81%
Weight: 30
King Khalid International Airport offers good connectivity to Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
🚇 Public Transit
35%
Weight: 20
Public transit is limited; Riyadh Metro is under development but not fully operational yet.
🚶 Walkability
31%
Weight: 20
City is car-centric with poor walkability due to urban sprawl and climate.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
79%
Weight: 15
Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem are widely used and reliable.
🚲 Cycling
24%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is minimal and climate is not conducive to cycling.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
65%
Weight: 15
Good road network and domestic flights connect Riyadh to other Saudi cities.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
18%
Weight: 10
Very limited availability of scooter or bike rentals.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
83%
Weight: 20
Excellent mobile network coverage with 5G widely available.
🔒 VPN Reliability
67%
Weight: 20
VPNs work but some restrictions and occasional slowdowns due to government controls.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
88%
Weight: 15
Stable and reliable power supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
52%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is available in malls and some public areas but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
60%
Weight: 40
Tourist and business visas are easier to obtain than before; digital nomad visa not yet available.
📊 Tax Friendliness
87%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax, making it very tax-friendly for digital nomads.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
20%
Weight: 15
Strict regulations on speech and expression; limited freedom compared to Western standards.
🏛️ Political Stability
75%
Weight: 20
Generally stable political environment with strong government control.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
43%
Weight: 15
Opening bank accounts can be bureaucratic and requires residency or sponsorship.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
61%
Weight: 10
Business registration processes have improved but still involve paperwork and local sponsorship.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No dedicated digital nomad visa available as of May 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
37%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and social acceptance for digital nomads; improving slowly.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
29%
Weight: 25
Few digital nomad-specific events or meetups currently.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
45%
Weight: 20
Small but growing online communities of expats and nomads in Riyadh.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
80%
Weight: 100
Generally safe city with low crime rates, especially for foreigners.
♀️ Female Friendly
34%
Weight: 50
Conservative society with restrictions on women’s freedoms; improving but still limited.
✊ Racial Tolerance
51%
Weight: 50
Diverse expatriate population but some social and legal discrimination exists.