12 Best Places to Live in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia (officially known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) is located in Western Asia and is the fifth largest country in Asia. Saudi Arabia is a great country to consider for those looking to move somewhere with low living costs.

Saudi Arabia also has a distinct and rich history, paired with delicious authentic cuisine that mixes complex flavours and spices.

It’s worth mentioning that the country is strictly governed by Sharia law and this does impact daily life in Saudi Arabia. For this reason, many expats choose to stay within expat communities that are somewhat removed from local life – moving to Saudi Arabia for financial reasons only is quite common.

Let’s take a look at the best places to live in Saudi Arabia.

Sections

Best Places To Live In Saudi Arabia

City	Reason
Riyadh	Best for work
Al-Kharj	Best for affordability
Jeddah	Best for families
Dhahran	Best for immigrants
Ta’if	Best for retirement
Jeddah, Al Balad	Best for young adults
Riyadh, Al-Nakheel	Best for students
Riyadh, Tahliya Street	Best for food
Medina	Best for singles
Jeddah	Best for weather
Al-Khobar	Best for beaches
Abha	Best for mountains

Best Places To Live In Saudi Arabia for Work

If you’re looking to work in Saudi Arabia, then the capital city, Riyadh, is one of the best options for you. Riyadh is centrally located in Saudi Arabia on a desert plateau and is the financial hub of Saudi Arabia.

Main industries in Saudi Arabia include the oil and gas industry – most UK graduates find job opportunities in these fields. Other industries with potential opportunities include IT, banking and telecommunications.

Riyadh has one of the most active job markets, but do keep in mind that finding a job that could be filled by a citizen of Saudi Arabia will be challenging due to the country’s focus on Saudization (officially the Saudi nationalisation scheme to ensure the labour market is filled by Saudi citizens).

Jeddah, the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia, is also a potential location for finding a job, though the challenges here are likely to be the same. Finding work is easier for those working for international companies with offices in Saudi Arabia.

It’s also likely that if you are relocating to Saudi Arabia with a job role in an international company, then they are likely to help with sourcing and securing a home.

Cheapest Places To Live In Saudi Arabia

Living costs in Saudi Arabia are lower than many other countries in the world, but for those living in the larger cities, the standard of living is quite high which can come with increased costs. Al-Kharj is a city located in the Riyadh province and has lower costs of living than big cities like Riyadh or Jeddah.

Accommodation in particular is much cheaper in Al-Kharj, but you may find that – as the city is much smaller – you lose some of the convenience of the bigger city, such as easy access to certain facilities or amenities.

However, there are still plenty of things to do in Al-Kharj, which has notable tourist attractions like the Al-Kharj Zoo or the Heet Cave (an area of caves with clear water for swimming and photo opportunities). As Al-Kharj is one of the fastest-growing cities in Saudi Arabia, the city is likely to further expand.

Najran is another city with affordable housing and a low cost of living. The city is located in the southwest of Saudi Arabia, on the Yemen border. As it is also a fast-developing city, it has seen an increase in the development of hospitals, schools and parks in recent years to provide good quality of life for its residents.

Best Places To Live In Saudi Arabia for Families

Jeddah is a port city located on the Red Sea and is one of the main cities where expats relocate to in Saudi Arabia. Jeddah anticipates a lot of tourists each year and has multiple attractions and amenities you would expect in a big city.

Navigating moving to Saudi Arabia, especially when it comes to looking for accommodation can be tricky. Most expats choose to live in Western-style compounds, though the competition for this can be high.

Expats in Jeddah can be found in areas such as the Rawdah, Salamah, Zahra, Shatie, and Nahda districts – if you’re moving with a work position already secured, then you may be living in a compound that is removed from Saudi life and culture.

There are plenty of international schools in Jeddah for children who are studying, and the healthcare facilities in Jeddah are among the highest quality in the country.

Riyadh is another great option for families, as there are existing expat communities and the city has everything you could ask for (entertainment options, food and dining options, good healthcare) when moving as a family.

Best Places To Live In Saudi Arabia for Immigrants

Dhahran is a city located in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. It is considered one of the administrative hubs of the country and was where the first oil field was discovered.

It is also where Aramco (officially the Saudi Arabian Oil Group) has its headquarters and there is quite a large international community based in Dhahran who work for Aramco.

Dhahran has a range of resorts, beaches, parks and museums and is often cited as a good city for families due to its amenities and local attractions.

It is considered a safe, modern and comfortable city with high wages. It is not as well connected as Riyadh or Jeddah which can be a disadvantage for some.

Most immigrants tend to settle in Jeddah when moving to Saudi Arabia as one of the most well-developed cities with modern amenities and access to home comforts.

Best Places To Live In Saudi Arabia for Retirement

Retiring in Saudi Arabia comes with the advantages of lovely weather, delicious cuisine and plenty of sightseeing opportunities. Big cities like Riyadh or Jeddah are good potential options, but many immigrants who may fancy a quieter pace enjoy settling in the city of Ta’if.

Ta’if is located in southwest Saudi Arabia, in the Mecca province. Ta’if has some outstanding architecture, including the famous Shubra Palace, and is a popular destination for tourists and national residents alike.

Ta’if benefits from a cooler climate than cities such as Mecca or Riyadh, which is ideal for anyone who may struggle in overwhelming heat. It also has some outstanding natural views of mountains and springs, with lovely walks and trails to explore.

Ta’if does have an airport and is also connected to the other big cities in Saudi Arabia via highways. Though Ta’if is a well-developed city, it is not as populated as Riyadh or Jeddah and this may be something to keep in mind for retirees looking for large expat communities.

Abha is another good city with a slightly cooler climate that could be a great potential location for retirees. The city has plenty of things to do – museums, shopping centres and outdoor sports are all popular here – as well as a strong religious history.

Best Places To Live In Saudi Arabia for Young Adults

Jeddah is one of the best cities in Saudi Arabia for young adults. As a cosmopolitan hub, the city is modern with a whole host of exciting opportunities for young adults, as well as an active job and housing market.

Jeddah has some incredible beachfronts and boutique cafes plus plenty of museums to explore. Young adults looking to spend their time with fun outdoor activities such as theme parks and beaches can’t go wrong in Jeddah.

There is also a range of options for those who are interested in history or culture. Jeddah is home to the Al Rahma Mosque and the King Saud Mosque which are both important religious sites in Islam.

There is also Jeddah’s historical area, Al Balad, with tight, maze-like lanes and traditional buildings, houses and shops. Al Balad is a UNESCO Heritage Site.

Riyadh is another clear choice for young adults due to the opportunities for work and housing in the city, as well as the plentiful number of entertainment and dining options.

Best Places To Live In Saudi Arabia for Students

Education in Saudi Arabia is free from primary school to high school. The universities available do have complicated admission systems for international students which is good to bear in mind.

Schooling in Saudi Arabia is considered to be some of the best in the Middle East and the cost of attending is comparatively low to other international schools – funds are also offered quite regularly.

Riyadh is one of the best cities for students in Saudi Arabia due to the reputable universities located there. For example, King Saud University, Al Faisal University, American International School Riyadh and British International School Riyadh are all located in Riyadh.

Most expat compounds are luckily quite close to some of the best international schools, and though the schools are considered international, you shouldn’t expect them to be Western in style. Al-Nakheel is a neighbourhood with a large expat community, particularly families, due to the closeness to surrounding schools.

Jeddah is another city to consider for students and is home to the King Abdulaziz University, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the University of Business and Technology.

Best Places To Live In Saudi Arabia for Food

In recent years, Riyadh has been named Saudi Arabia’s food capital due to its vast range of upmarket restaurants and delicious street food. Saudi cuisine varies from region to region but it mostly contains a mix of rice, potatoes, milk, chicken or lamb and a mix of rich, aromatic spices.

Tahliya Street is one of the most well-known streets in Riyadh – famed for its mix of markets, shops and dozens of international restaurants. Some of these restaurants include authentic Saudi cuisine while some opt for more global flavours such as Japanese, Chinese or Western.

As Riyadh’s culinary scene expands, there are more options for foodie lovers to get stuck into some authentic Saudi Arabian food. Another good city for food-lovers is Jeddah which rivals Riyadh in terms of culinary options.

Best Places To Live In Saudi Arabia for Singles

Medina is located in a city in western Saudi Arabia and is a major Islamic pilgrimage site as it is home to Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque). The city is also the perfect location for singles – the housing and cost of living is affordable and there are plenty of amenities.

Do keep in mind that there are some restrictions regarding foreigners and purchasing property. Make sure to brush up on these rules before setting your heart on the city.

Unlike Mecca, Medina is open to tourists though non-Muslims are not permitted to visit the Prophet’s Mosque. Medina is close to Jeddah which is a huge benefit for those who want to be closer to the larger city or may need to commute for work.

The crime rate in Medina is low which is another benefit for the city – though job opportunities can be hard to come by. This is ideal then for digital nomads or single freelancers who have a job secured and are hoping to live in a city surrounded by culture and history.

Jeddah and Dhahran are also good options for single people – both have existing communities of expats for those looking to make new connections and both have opportunities for low-cost housing.

Best Places To Live In Saudi Arabia for Weather

The climate in Saudi Arabia is mostly desert aside from the southwestern part of the country. This means that the country has four distinct seasons with chilly winds during the winter and typical desert heat during the summer.

The best city for weather in Saudi Arabia is Jeddah which has a milder climate as it is located in the southwest and has the benefit of being on the Red Sea coast.

Jeddah’s coldest months are from December to February with temperatures at 23 degrees Celsius, while the hottest months are from June to August with the hottest temperatures at 38 degrees Celsius.

Mecca is another great city with a moderate climate, though, as with Medina, there are some restrictions regarding expats and purchasing or owning property.

Best Places To Live In Saudi Arabia Near Beaches

Al-Khobar is located in the Arabian Gulf and is a popular tourist destination. It is the primarily residential area of the Dammam metropolitan area and is considered by some to be a resort town.

There are plenty of shopping opportunities in Al-Khobar and its Corniche (which is a large waterfront area) includes Prince Faisal bin Fahad Sea Park.

One of the most famous beaches in Al-Khobar is Half Moon Beach. It has many huts and cafes for refreshments, though visitors must take notice of the safety messages regarding swimming.

Jeddah is another city with lovely beaches, both private and public, that can be enjoyed all year round.

Best Places To Live In Saudi Arabia Near Mountains

There are several mountainous areas in Saudi Arabia. For those with an interest in mountains, Abha is the perfect city.

At a higher altitude than other Saudi Arabian cities, Abha has a cooler climate which helps those who want to spend the day hiking some of its iconic trails.

Abha has plenty of gardens, parks and forests which creates a lush and natural environment in the city. In particular, Asir National Park is a fantastic choice for those who enjoy time in the great outdoors.

Al Baha is another choice option for mountain lovers. The city is smaller than Abha, though the views are just as striking. Ta’if is another fantastic option that is fondly enjoyed by those with a passion for hiking or climbing.