Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#141
,
Nomad Score:
59%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
62%
Weight: 150
Moderate cost of living compared to global cities; cheaper than many Western cities but higher than other Middle Eastern cities.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
51%
Weight: 80
Accommodation is relatively expensive in central Riyadh, with modern apartments costing more than average for the region.
🍎 Food & Groceries
74%
Weight: 40
Local markets and groceries are affordable; imported goods and dining out at international restaurants can be pricier.
🚌 Transportation Cost
78%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but taxis and ride-hailing services are affordable; fuel prices are low.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
50%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are growing but still limited; costs for cinemas, events, and dining out vary widely.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
65%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are moderately priced with many modern facilities available.
💱 Currency Stability
87%
Weight: 30
Saudi Riyal is pegged to the US dollar, providing strong currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
79%
Weight: 100
Good fiber-optic internet widely available with speeds suitable for remote work.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
63%
Weight: 40
Growing number of coworking spaces, mostly in business districts.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
70%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer WiFi, though quality and speed can vary.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
55%
Weight: 30
Limited number of cafes catering specifically to digital nomads; cultural norms may affect working in cafes.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
32%
Weight: 100
Riyadh is not yet a popular destination for digital nomads compared to other global cities.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
60%
Weight: 30
Work culture is improving but can be demanding; weekends are Friday-Saturday which may affect work-life rhythm.
🌳 Environmental Quality
41%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution and dust storms affect environmental quality.
🧼 Cleanliness
73%
Weight: 10
City is generally clean with active municipal services.
🗨️ Language Barrier
45%
Weight: 30
Arabic is dominant; English is widely spoken in business but less so in everyday life.
💨 Air Quality
38%
Weight: 15
Air quality is often poor due to dust and pollution.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
76%
Weight: 20
High-quality healthcare facilities available, especially private hospitals.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
64%
Weight: 25
Healthcare can be expensive without insurance, but government facilities are more affordable.
🏥 Healthcare
70%
Weight: 20
Good overall healthcare infrastructure with access to specialists.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
78%
Weight: 80
Hot desert climate with very hot summers and mild winters; mostly sunny.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
90%
Weight: 10
Very low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
42%
Weight: 10
Limited green spaces within the city; some parks but overall scarce.
❄️ Air Conditioning
95%
Weight: 15
Widespread and reliable air conditioning due to hot climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
21%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; mostly hot and dry year-round.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
70%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage with growing openness to international influences.
🌃 Nightlife
30%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is limited due to cultural and legal restrictions.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
50%
Weight: 15
Desert landscapes nearby offer outdoor activities but limited greenery.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
55%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Arabic exist but are not widespread for foreigners.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
68%
Weight: 10
Increasing number of cultural tours and experiences as tourism grows.
🎳 Indoors Fun
57%
Weight: 10
Shopping malls and indoor entertainment options are available but limited.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
72%
Weight: 25
Diverse food scene with traditional Saudi and international cuisines.
🧠 Yoga Studios
40%
Weight: 10
Few yoga studios due to cultural factors; some private options exist.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
68%
Weight: 15
Good availability of gyms and fitness centers.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
65%
Weight: 15
Healthy food options are available but not as widespread as in Western cities.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
69%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 time zone is favorable for communication with Europe, less so for Americas or Asia-Pacific.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
60%
Weight: 25
Growing business and startup events but still limited compared to global hubs.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
45%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most opportunities come from international companies.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
38%
Weight: 20
Freelancing is not yet mainstream; regulatory and cultural factors limit growth.
🏢 Coworking Quality
61%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are modern but fewer in number and less diverse than in major global cities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
67%
Weight: 15
Rapidly growing startup ecosystem supported by government initiatives.
💳 Local Payment Services
73%
Weight: 10
Good availability of digital payment options and mobile wallets.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
40%
Weight: 15
Regulatory environment is cautious; crypto adoption is limited.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
85%
Weight: 30
King Khalid International Airport offers good connectivity to Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
🚇 Public Transit
35%
Weight: 20
Public transit is limited but Riyadh Metro is under expansion and partially operational.
🚶 Walkability
30%
Weight: 20
City is car-centric with limited pedestrian infrastructure.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
80%
Weight: 15
Popular and affordable ride-sharing services like Uber and Careem widely used.
🚲 Cycling
20%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is minimal and climate is not conducive.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
70%
Weight: 15
Good road network and domestic flights available.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
15%
Weight: 10
Very limited availability of scooter or bike rentals.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
82%
Weight: 20
Strong mobile network coverage with 4G and expanding 5G.
🔒 VPN Reliability
50%
Weight: 20
VPNs work but some restrictions and occasional slowdowns exist.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
88%
Weight: 15
Reliable power supply with minimal outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
45%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is limited mostly to malls and airports.
⚖️ 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
90%
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.
🏛️ Political Stability
75%
Weight: 20
Stable government with low risk of political unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
40%
Weight: 15
Challenging for foreigners; requires residency and documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
65%
Weight: 10
Improved processes but still bureaucratic for foreigners.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available as of April 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
40%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and cultural factors reduce overall friendliness to digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
30%
Weight: 25
Few digital nomad-specific events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
45%
Weight: 20
Small but growing online communities for expats and remote workers.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
80%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low crime rates, especially for foreigners.
♀️ Female Friendly
35%
Weight: 50
Improving but still conservative; restrictions and cultural norms affect female travelers.
✊ Racial Tolerance
50%
Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance; expats from diverse backgrounds live and work but social integration varies.