Want to live and work in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia has a moderate cost of living by Gulf standards. In Riyadh, a one-bedroom apartment in a central area (Olaya, Al Sahafah, Diplomatic Quarter) runs between USD 800 and USD 1,500 per month. Expatriate compounds with pool, gym, and security (Al Hamra, Cordoba, Arizona) cost between USD 2,000 and USD 5,000 for two bedrooms, often with one year paid in advance. Jeddah is about 15% more expensive in premium zones (Al Shati, Al Hamra). Dammam and Al-Khobar (Eastern Province) are more accessible.

Supermarkets are reasonable by regional standards. Chains such as Carrefour, Tamimi Markets, Danube, and Lulu Hypermarket offer global variety. Asian and western products are accessible. Mid-range restaurants run USD 20 to USD 50 per person; American fast food and Arabic options (Albaik, AlRomansiah) are cheap (USD 5 to USD 10). Fuel is among the cheapest in the world (around USD 0.60 per litre), and almost every expatriate drives.

Basic bills (electricity high in summer from air conditioning, water, internet) total around USD 200 to USD 400 per month. Public healthcare does not cover foreigners; expatriates use private hospitals (Saudi German, King Faisal Specialist) with employer-sponsored insurance (standard part of remuneration). Major advantage: zero personal income tax. A comfortable total monthly cost runs around USD 3,500 to USD 6,000 in a quality compound.

Basic education is free for Saudi citizens, with separate schools for boys and girls at all public levels. Children of foreign residents typically attend international schools (American, British, Indian, Pakistani, French, Japanese), which are abundant in Riyadh, Jeddah, and the Eastern Province, offering home-country curricula.

Saudi universities have received massive investment. King Abdulaziz University (Jeddah), King Saud University (Riyadh), and KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, near Jeddah) have gained international recognition. KAUST in particular attracts foreign researchers and offers graduate programs in English with full scholarships.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program sends thousands of Saudis to study in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. The return of these graduates is reshaping local higher education. For foreigners, KAUST and some private universities offer opportunities in technical fields.

Saudi Arabia is considered one of the safest countries in the world in terms of ordinary crime. Robberies, assaults, and street crime are very rare in major cities. Police presence is high, laws are strict, and enforcement is rigorous.

The main considerations involve social and behavioral rules. Although many restrictions have been relaxed since 2019 (women can drive, travel alone, attend cinemas and concerts), it remains important to respect dress codes (modest clothing) and public behavior norms, especially in Riyadh. Alcoholic beverages remain banned throughout the country.

Geopolitical risk (proximity to Yemen, regional tensions) affects mainly the south and the Eastern Province. Major cities and tourist areas operate normally. In 2023, international tourism grew strongly, with sites like Al-Ula and the Red Sea coast attracting visitors.

Saudi culture revolves around family, Bedouin tradition, and Islam. Hospitality and generosity toward guests are deeply held values. Traditional meals include kabsa (rice with lamb or chicken, the national dish), mandi, dates, and Arabic coffee (qahwa) with cardamom. Eating with the right hand in the traditional manner is common.

Islam's holiest sites are in the country: the Kaaba in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. Muslims from around the world make the Hajj pilgrimage (once in a lifetime, on specific calendar dates) and the Umrah (a lesser pilgrimage, possible year-round). Non-Muslims cannot enter Mecca or the central parts of Medina.

Vision 2030 has spurred unprecedented cultural opening. There are festivals (Riyadh Season, Diriyah Season, Jeddah Season), international concerts (BTS, Justin Bieber, and others have performed), Formula 1 racing, international boxing events, and archaeological tourism at Al-Ula (a Nabataean site and UNESCO World Heritage site).

Saudi Arabia occupies almost 80% of the Arabian Peninsula, covering around 2.15 million square kilometres, the world's 12th largest country. About 95% of the territory is desert. The Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter) in the southeast is the largest continuous sand desert on the planet, with dunes up to 250 metres high. The Nafud in the north and the Dahna in the centre complete the major deserts.

There are two coastlines with distinct characteristics. To the west, the Red Sea with more than 1,800 km of coastline, sheltering Jeddah, Yanbu, and the NEOM megaproject at the far north, with turquoise waters and coral reefs. The Sarawat Mountains run parallel to the Red Sea, with peaks exceeding 3,000 m (Jabal Sawda in Asir), creating a mild climate in cities such as Abha and Taif. To the east, the Persian Gulf shelters Dammam, Al-Khobar, and the world's largest oil reserve (Ghawar).

Riyadh, the capital, sits in the centre of the country on a plateau at 600 metres, originally an oasis. Mecca and Medina, Islam's sacred cities, are to the west, accessible only to Muslims (in Mecca's case, exclusively). Population density is low, around 16 inhabitants per square kilometre, with heavy concentration in Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, and the Eastern Province. The climate is extreme desert: summers up to 50 degrees Celsius, mild winters (10 to 20 degrees) with cold nights in the interior desert.

For Saudi nationals who want to travel or immigrate to the United States, the most used routes depend on the individual profile. The B-1/B-2 is the standard visa for tourism, business, and family visits, being the most frequent entry point. For study, the F-1 covers American universities, with OPT for 12 to 36 months for work after graduation. Saudi Arabia had a history of King Abdullah Scholarships that sent tens of thousands of students to the US.

For work, the H-1B serves qualified professionals in technology, engineering, medicine, and finance with a university degree, subject to an annual lottery and employer sponsorship. The L-1 covers intra-company transfers within multinationals, practical for executives from Aramco, SABIC, and Saudi banks with US subsidiaries. For permanent immigration, EB-1 (extraordinary talent, executives) and EB-2 NIW (national interest) serve qualified professionals.

The EB-5, investor visa from USD 800,000 in target areas (TEA), grants direct permanent residence for the entire family, a relevant option for high-income Saudi investors. The O-1 serves artists, athletes, scientists, and business leaders with international recognition. The J-1 covers exchange programmes, research, medical training (important for Saudi physicians), and cultural visits. Saudi Arabia has no E-2 treaty with the US.