Moving to Saudi Arabia from Burkina Faso

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Burkina Faso to Saudi Arabia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Burkina Faso to Saudi Arabia, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Burkina Faso to Saudi Arabia.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BF
27.8
SA
18.5

Saudi Arabia performs significantly better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BF
$224
SA
$3,475
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BF
1.5
SA
30.8

Saudi Arabia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Burkina Faso leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BF
84.0
SA
91.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BF
0.3t
SA
18.5t

Burkina Faso performs better than Saudi Arabia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BF
0.1
SA
37.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BF
7.8%
SA
974.2%

Saudi Arabia generally does better on infrastructure, though Burkina Faso leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BF
5.3%
SA
4.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BF
$2,500
SA
$49,600

Saudi Arabia performs significantly better than Burkina Faso across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BF
63.4 yrs
SA
76.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BF
49.4
SA
12.3

Saudi Arabia performs significantly better than Burkina Faso across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Ouagadougou Rain: 29.3 in/yr (744 mm)
95° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Riyadh Rain: 4.4 in/yr (111 mm)
92° / 64°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Ouagadougou Riyadh
Jan–Mar 96°/67°F (36°/20°C) 75°/50°F (24°/10°C)
Apr–Jun 99°/78°F (37°/26°C) 101°/72°F (38°/22°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/72°F (32°/22°C) 109°/77°F (43°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 95°/67°F (35°/20°C) 84°/56°F (29°/13°C)
View all months
Month Ouagadougou Riyadh
Jan 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C) 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.9°C)
Feb 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C) 74°/49°F (23.3°/9.3°C)
Mar 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C) 82°/56°F (27.7°/13.2°C)
Apr 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C) 92°/65°F (33.3°/18.4°C)
May 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C) 103°/74°F (39.4°/23.4°C)
Jun 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C) 109°/78°F (42.6°/25.3°C)
Jul 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C) 111°/80°F (43.7°/26.4°C)
Aug 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C) 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.3°C)
Sep 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C) 105°/73°F (40.6°/22.9°C)
Oct 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C) 96°/65°F (35.5°/18.2°C)
Nov 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C) 83°/56°F (28.1°/13.3°C)
Dec 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C) 72°/47°F (22.1°/8.4°C)

Data: Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso, National Center for Meteorology National Center for Meteorology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Burkina Faso 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.

Burkina Faso passport

Burkina Faso passport holder visiting Saudi Arabia

Visa Required
Burkina Faso passport holders need a visa to enter Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia passport

Saudi Arabia passport holder visiting Burkina Faso

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Saudi Arabia passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Burkina Faso.

Data: 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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Saudi Arabia has 37.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Saudi Arabia safe for expats?

Saudi Arabia performs significantly better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Saudi Arabia compared to Burkina Faso?

Saudi Arabia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Burkina Faso leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 30.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Saudi Arabia, compared to 1.5 in Burkina Faso. Saudi Arabia scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Burkina Faso: 40).

What's the weather like in Saudi Arabia compared to Burkina Faso?

The average high temperature in Riyadh is 92°F, compared to 95°F in Ouagadougou. Riyadh receives around 4.4 in of rainfall per year, while Ouagadougou gets 29.3 in.

What language do they speak in Saudi Arabia?

The official language in Saudi Arabia is Arabic. In Burkina Faso, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

BF SA
Population 21,935,389 35,354,380
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) Saudi Riyal (SAR)
Languages French Arabic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +226 +966
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911