Asia · Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has opened to visitors quickly, with modern infrastructure, fast internet, very low crime and striking, little-visited sights such as the Nabataean tombs at Hegra. It remains deeply conservative. Alcohol is banned, dress and social norms are strict even as they loosen, and newcomers from Western countries face a real cultural adjustment. Entertainment options are still developing, and bureaucracy can be slow. There is no dedicated nomad visa. The heat is extreme for most of the year, so November to March is the time to visit.
Nomad quick facts
$1570/mo
$2510/mo
174.5 Mbps
2.067 (#122 of 190)
Moderate
Nov–Mar
Not available
74.8 / 100
Score breakdown
Modern infrastructure and fast internet, very low crime, no personal income tax, distinctive heritage sites.
Very conservative laws and culture, alcohol banned, extreme heat for most of the year, limited entertainment, no nomad visa.
Cost of living in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has relatively moderate living costs for a wealthy Gulf country, although accommodation in Riyadh and Jeddah can be expensive. Everyday services, fuel and local dining are generally more affordable than in many Western countries, while newer urban developments can carry a premium. For nomads, the main appeal is access to modern infrastructure and a rapidly changing urban environment rather than exceptionally low overall costs.
Estimated monthly cost
Single
$1,570/mo
Couple
$2,510/mo
Cost score inputs
Livingcost
77/100
WB PLI
49.9
Score blends a nomad-realistic monthly cost estimate (built from livingcost.org data, adjusted for short-term nomad spending like furnished housing, coworking, and eating out) with the World Bank's Household Consumption Price Level Index, a broader cross-country cost benchmark. Countries without World Bank price-level data are scored on the livingcost estimate alone. Prices displayed in USD.
The nomad cost estimate reflects a realistic single/couple monthly budget, not a bare local cost of living — actual spending still varies with lifestyle and location within a country.
Sources: livingcost.org · World Bank Household Consumption Price Level Index · Independent nomad cost estimates
Internet in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia delivers high-speed download performance and solid 5G coverage, though higher ping times can occasionally introduce minor latency during live calls.
Download speed
174.5 Mbps
Upload speed
50.2 Mbps
Latency
70.2 ms
Blends download speed (Ookla Speedtest Global Index) with upload speed and latency (Cloudflare Radar). Speeds are scored between 10 Mbps (0) and 200 Mbps (100); latency counts the opposite way — lower is better. A missing metric doesn't penalize a country, it's scored on whatever data is available.
A national average — city and neighbourhood speeds vary, especially outside major hubs.
Get an eSIM for arrival →Sources: Ookla Speedtest Global Index · Cloudflare Radar
Safety in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is very safe from a crime perspective, with very low theft and violent crime in Riyadh and Jeddah; as with other Gulf states, the main consideration for nomads is complying with the country's still relatively conservative laws around dress, behavior and alcohol.
Global safety rank
#122 of 190
Peace Index score
2.067 (lower = safer)
Gallup Law & Order rank
#9 of 119
Gallup Law & Order score
91 (higher = safer)
Blends three published safety indices: the Global Peace Index, the WJP Rule of Law Index (Order & Security factor), and the Gallup Global Law and Order Index. Places the Global Peace Index doesn't cover use our own estimate, based on regional peers and crime data. Each is rescaled 0-100 and combined with weights favoring GPI and Gallup slightly over WJP. Not every country is tracked by all three — the blend adjusts to whichever are available (weights are renormalized) rather than penalizing a country for a missing source, though a country tracked by fewer sources carries lower confidence.
As this is national average data, be aware that safety varies significantly by city and region within a country.
Get nomad insurance →Sources: Global Peace Index (Institute for Economics & Peace) · WJP Rule of Law Index (World Justice Project) · Gallup Global Law and Order Index
Tourism & infrastructure in Saudi Arabia
Riyadh's fast-modernizing skyline and Jeddah's more relaxed Red Sea coast and historic Al-Balad quarter give Saudi Arabia genuine range, with under-the-radar sights like AlUla's Nabataean tombs adding real day-trip value. This remains a deeply conservative country, so cultural adjustment is a real part of the experience, not a footnote.
Happiness rank
#22 of 147
Quality of life rank
#38 of 89
Tourism development rank
#29 of 119
English Proficiency Index
404.0 (99 out of 106)
Within-city transit
Moderate
Between-city transit
Moderate
Desert; extremely hot summers and mild winters, with very little rain.
Best months: Nov–Mar
Saudi Arabia's transit is being transformed: Riyadh opened a vast six-line driverless metro in 2024, complemented by a new bus network, and the Haramain high-speed railway links Mecca, Medina and Jeddah. Elsewhere the kingdom remains overwhelmingly car-dependent, with extreme heat and sprawl discouraging walking, so ride-hailing (Careem, Uber) is widely used.
A weighted blend of published indices: the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index (weighted highest — the strongest predictor of appeal), Numbeo's Quality of Life Index, the World Happiness Report, Gallup's day-to-day enjoyment data, the EF English Proficiency Index, and a public transit assessment covering both within-city and between-city transport. Not every country is scored on all six — the blend adjusts to whichever are available rather than penalizing a country for a missing one.
Sources: WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index · Numbeo Quality of Life Index · World Happiness Report · Gallup · EF English Proficiency Index · Public transit assessment
Saudi Arabia visa and entry rules for digital nomads
Tourist entry — USA passport
E-Visa or visa on arrival — 90 days
Tourism Visa Note
E-visa costs approximately SAR 535 (~$142 USD), which includes mandatory travel health insurance for the stay — apply via the official visa.visitsaudi.com portal.
Working remotely in Saudi Arabia on tourist entry
Work of any kind, including remote work, is permitted only with a standard work visa, according to EY's July 2026 global guide. Source
In practice
No reports of enforcement against remote workers found (checked October 2026).
Border runs and re-entry
Multiple entries are allowed, but days are capped in total across the e-visa's 365-day validity, so a border run adds nothing. Source
Digital nomad visa
No dedicated digital-nomad route
Other long-stay options
Residence Permit (Iqama), Work Visa
Visa and entry requirements can change. Check the latest information from official government sources before travelling; eligibility, documents and permitted activities depend on your nationality and personal circumstances.
Tax & residency in Saudi Arabia
Tax-residency timing
30 days with a permanent place of residence, or 183 days in the taxable year
How the day count works
Presence is counted in the taxable year; a permanent place of residence plus at least 30 days, or at least 183 days without that condition, can meet the statutory residence test. A part of a day generally counts as a full day, except transit between points outside the Kingdom.
Other residency triggers
A permanent place of residence in Saudi Arabia is an alternative residency test when the person is present for at least 30 days in the taxable year.
Remote work before residence
May be taxable. Saudi-source service or business income paid to a nonresident may be subject to Saudi withholding tax; Saudi Arabia does not impose personal income tax on ordinary employment salaries.
If you become tax resident
Saudi income tax generally covers non-Saudi business interests and taxable business activity; ordinary employment salary is not subject to personal income tax. Zakat and entity-specific rules may also apply.
What this usually means for nomads
Ordinary employment salary is not subject to Saudi personal income tax, but that does not remove other tax or withholding rules. Nonresident service or business income from Saudi sources may face withholding tax, and a permanent home plus 30 days or 183 days in the taxable year can meet the residence test. Business activity, local payers and a Saudi home increase the need for individual advice.
Tax rules can change and depend on your residency status, income structure, time spent in the country and applicable tax treaties. This information is general only and is not financial or tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional before relying on it.
Top cities for nomads in Saudi Arabia
Jeddah, on the Red Sea, is the more relaxed city, with a historic old quarter and diving. Riyadh is the business capital, Al Khobar is an expat-friendly coastal city in the east, and AlUla is a desert heritage destination.
Capital & largest; business & tech hub, modern, high salaries; conservative & very hot.
Cosmopolitan Red Sea city; more relaxed, historic Al-Balad, diving & coast.
Eastern Province coastal city; expat-friendly, laid-back, near Bahrain.
Desert heritage site; Hegra ruins, dramatic canyons, boutique tourism.
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