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The world's largest expat community

Your Expat Community in Saudi Arabia

  • Connect with fellow expats in Saudi Arabia

  • Join exciting events and groups for expats

  • Get information in our expat guides

  • Exchange tips about expat life in Saudi Arabia

  • Juan Garcia

    Making business in Riyadh was easy. But meeting true friends is hard. I found them on InterNations, where the global minds meet.

Welcome to Our Network of Expatriates in Saudi Arabia!

MarHaban and greetings from your new home, here in sunny Saudi Arabia! As you begin your life in this fresh and exciting country, we at InterNations are here to help ensure a smooth transition for you with help, advice and, most importantly, links to other expats living in Saudi. It’s natural when moving away from home to feel overwhelmed by the sudden change in culture, taste, climate, geography, you name it! By joining InterNations, you can connect with other expats and you will be able to take advantage of their local knowledge, helping you to tackle even the most basic of questions, such as, "where can I find a good family doctor?", "how safe is Riyadh for foreigners?", and "What laws to do I have to abide by?". Saudi Arabia is an oil-rich country dependent on foreign workers — nearly 80% of those employed in the private sector are non-Saudi — but with the country being under Sharia law, there are certain areas of the culture which can come as a shock to the new arrival. Here’s where the insider know-how and previous experiences of your fellow expats will prove invaluable to you, whether it be laws applying to alcohol, proper respect to the country's religious belief, or the manner of dress expected of foreigners.

With InterNations, you never stand alone. Whether you are moving to another country or going on a business trip somewhere — our communities around the world are there to make you feel at home wherever you are. Feel free to check out our vibrant InterNations Communities in countries like China or France.

Jump right in:

Moving to Saudi Arabia: Your Questions, Answered

If you’re a new or soon-to-be expat in Saudi Arabia, you probably aren’t quite sure yet what it will be like. That’s why we gathered the answers to some key questions you may have about life in Saudi Arabia. If you want to ask more specific questions — or even share your own tips — join InterNations! You’ll be part of a community of new and experienced expats who love to help each other out.

What are the most common nationalities in Saudi Arabia? As an expat in Saudi Arabia, you'll meet people from many different cultures (especially if you're an InterNations member!) The top nationalities in the InterNations Communities in Saudi Arabia currently are:

  • Indians
  • Pakistanis
  • Americans
  • Egyptians

Which cities are most popular among expats in Saudi Arabia? Some cities attract more expats than others. These are the cities with the largest expat communities in Saudi Arabia:

  • Riyadh
  • Jeddah
  • Dhahran

How much rent do expats pay in Saudi Arabia? Your personal situation plays a role here. Single expats spend on average 675 USD on their accommodation per month, while expat families spend around 850 USD. And of course, rents can also vary greatly depending on the location and city within Saudi Arabia.

To give you an idea of what to expect, here are some rent averages for the most popular cities in Saudi Arabia.

Average rent in Riyadh

  • Single expats: 989 USD
  • Expat families: 1.430 USD

Average rent in Jeddah

  • Single expats: 710 USD
  • Expat families: 933 USD

Average rent in Dhahran

  • Single expats: 656 USD
  • Expat families: 895 USD

How safe is Saudi Arabia? You may be wondering about safety. In general people perceive their personal safety situation in Saudi Arabia as very safe. People rate the risk of falling victim to petty crime (such as pickpocketing or minor theft) as low. They consider the chance of being the victim of violent crime (including mugging) very low. And, they rate confidence in the police force and related local authorities as high.

How safe is Saudi Arabia for women? Female expats rated the safety situation in Saudi Arabia as rather safe. This is based on the feedback of expat women living in Saudi Arabia (rather than actual crime statistics). So obviously this can be highly subjective and depends on factors such as where people live.

Join Our Online and In-Person Events in Saudi Arabia

Attend our many events to get to know like-minded expats, both in Saudi Arabia and around the world! Our new online events even let you find connection and inspiration without leaving your home.

Mar 21, 2024, 3:00 PM
68 attendees
Let's celebrate the spirit of Ramadan in Ramada Gulf Hotel. We will try their delicious International Iftar dinner buffet. A perfect time to network and create some memorable moments together! Please
Join us for a memorable gathering as we fast and break our fast together in the warm embrace of Ramadan vibes. ✨🌙 Indulge in an open buffet featuring a wide array of delicious food and drinks, where
The Holy month of Ramadan is finally here. Out of all the blessings we look forward to, one of the most important moment is when we all gather around to break our fast together at Sun-set time. Let's
Apr 12, 2024, 6:00 PM
108 attendees

Want to see all the upcoming events in Saudi Arabia?

Connect with Like-Minded Expatriates in Saudi Arabia

  • Community Member
    From Jordan, living in Jeddah
  • Community Member
    From France, living in Riyadh
  • Community Member
    From Pakistan, living in Khobar (Eastern Prov.)
  • Community Member
    From Bangladesh, living in Jeddah
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Jeddah
  • Community Member
    From Yemen, living in Jeddah
  • Community Member
    From Ireland, living in Riyadh
  • Community Member
    From India, living in Jeddah
  • Community Member
    From Australia, living in Riyadh
  • Community Member
    From France, living in Khobar (Eastern Prov.)

Meet other expats like you in Saudi Arabia

Our Global Partners

    Share your hobbies and interests with expats in Saudi Arabia

    Discover Saudi Arabia with Other Expats!

    Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Arab world and is home to the two most important cities in Islam, Mecca and Medina. The capital, Riyadh, has a population of over 5 million people and is the largest city in the country. In 2019, Saudi Arabia will boast the world’s tallest building when the 20 billion USD Kingdom Tower is completed in Jeddah. Red Sea beaches, the Sarrawat and Hijaz mountains, the UNESCO World Heritage site at Al-Hijr — these are just the pinnacles of this remarkable country. Your expat compatriots have visited all these places on their travels and, with their help, you too will discover unseen parts of the country that even the guidebooks won’t tell you about! Try new foods: the Halal diet is inspired by a mixture of Persian, Turkish, and Indian food and you can try the national dish, a st■ lamb known as khūzī, or shāwarmā, a marinated dish of chicken or mutton. In Damman, you can explore the outdoor markets and bazaars. Your expat community will be able to advise you about the best places to go.

    InterNations is the largest global network for expatriates, with communities in 420 cities around the world. Meet fellow global minds in your city of residence or get to know local expatriates before you're moving or traveling abroad and never feel like a stranger. InterNations makes it easy for you to stay in touch with your expat friends, both online and offline, so you can grow your network of friends and contacts from all over the world. Whether they live in Malaysia or Peru, InterNations allows you to be close to them even if they are miles away.

    Who Makes Up Your InterNations Expat Community?

    With InterNations, you'll be able to find like-minded people. We hold regular events which bring you together with people who have been living and working in Saudi for months or even years, whether they're young professionals, experienced CEOs or entire families. Our network of expats have gone through a careful approval process and all our members value our principles of courtesy, respect, and honesty which mean that you, and everyone who joins us, can be assured of being able to connect with people online and offline in a safe and secure environment. There are the very popular InterNations Groups which can be anything from dance lessons to food and wine tasting, as well as places for families to enjoy safe and inspirational days out. At our larger community-wide social events, you can network with expats and global minds from around the world. You can ask anything you may need to know, and get answers about how to deal with legal and administrative issues. So goodnight from Saudi Arabia — or as we say here, as-salaam'alaykum (Peace be with you) and we hope to see you soon!

    • Juan Garcia

      Making business in Riyadh was easy. But meeting true friends is hard. I found them on InterNations, where the global minds meet.

    • Marie Troisonne

      Without the help of all the expats on InterNations it would not have been able to settle in Riyadh that fast. Thanks to the community.

    Our Global Partners

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