Moving to Saudi Arabia from Afghanistan
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Afghanistan to Saudi Arabia — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Afghanistan to Saudi Arabia, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riyadh averages 92°F vs 67°F in Kabul, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Get free moving quotes to Saudi Arabia
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Afghanistan to Saudi Arabia, and how the trend has changed.
people born in Afghanistan live in Saudi Arabia · UN DESA
Key Indicator Comparison
How Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Saudi Arabia performs significantly better than Afghanistan across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Afghanistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Saudi Arabia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Afghanistan generally does better on environment, though Saudi Arabia leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Saudi Arabia generally does better on infrastructure, though Afghanistan leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Saudi Arabia performs significantly better than Afghanistan across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Saudi Arabia performs significantly better than Afghanistan across all family life metrics.
Data: Afghanistan Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Kabul | Riyadh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 45°/25°F (8°/-4°C) | 75°/50°F (24°/10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 76°/48°F (25°/9°C) | 101°/72°F (38°/22°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/56°F (31°/13°C) | 109°/77°F (43°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 59°/31°F (15°/-1°C) | 84°/56°F (29°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Kabul | Riyadh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°/19°F (4.5°/-7.1°C) | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.9°C) |
| Feb | 42°/22°F (5.5°/-5.7°C) | 74°/49°F (23.3°/9.3°C) |
| Mar | 54°/33°F (12.5°/0.7°C) | 82°/56°F (27.7°/13.2°C) |
| Apr | 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C) | 92°/65°F (33.3°/18.4°C) |
| May | 76°/48°F (24.4°/8.8°C) | 103°/74°F (39.4°/23.4°C) |
| Jun | 86°/54°F (30.2°/12.4°C) | 109°/78°F (42.6°/25.3°C) |
| Jul | 90°/60°F (32.1°/15.3°C) | 111°/80°F (43.7°/26.4°C) |
| Aug | 90°/58°F (32.0°/14.3°C) | 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.3°C) |
| Sep | 83°/49°F (28.5°/9.4°C) | 105°/73°F (40.6°/22.9°C) |
| Oct | 72°/39°F (22.4°/3.9°C) | 96°/65°F (35.5°/18.2°C) |
| Nov | 59°/30°F (15.0°/-1.2°C) | 83°/56°F (28.1°/13.3°C) |
| Dec | 47°/24°F (8.3°/-4.7°C) | 72°/47°F (22.1°/8.4°C) |
National Center for MeteorologyVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. To live, work, or study long-term in Saudi Arabia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Saudi Arabia's immigration authority.
Afghanistan passport holder visiting Saudi Arabia
Visa Required
Saudi Arabia passport holder visiting Afghanistan
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Saudi Arabia?
With 37.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Saudi Arabia can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.
Is Saudi Arabia safe for expats?
Saudi Arabia performs significantly better than Afghanistan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Saudi Arabia is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.0 in Afghanistan.
How is healthcare in Saudi Arabia compared to Afghanistan?
Afghanistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Saudi Arabia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 30.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Saudi Arabia, compared to 2.5 in Afghanistan. Saudi Arabia scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Afghanistan: 41).
What's the weather like in Saudi Arabia compared to Afghanistan?
The average high temperature in Riyadh is 92°F, compared to 67°F in Kabul. Riyadh receives around 4.4 in of rainfall per year, while Kabul gets 12.3 in.
What language do they speak in Saudi Arabia?
The official language in Saudi Arabia is Arabic. In Afghanistan, the official languages are Dari, Pashto and Turkmen.
