Moving to Namibia from Saudi Arabia

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Saudi Arabia to Namibia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Saudi Arabia to Namibia, and you’d need to navigate life in Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga and Tswana. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Windhoek averages 80°F vs 92°F in Riyadh, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Namibia compared to Saudi Arabia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SA
0.8
NA
12.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SA
18.5
NA
22.0

Saudi Arabia performs better than Namibia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SA
$3,475
NA
$1,068
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SA
30.8
NA
5.4

Saudi Arabia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Namibia 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

SA
91.0
NA
43.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SA
18.5t
NA
1.2t

Namibia performs significantly 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

SA
37.0
NA
3.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SA
974.2%
NA
0.9%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SA
4.9%
NA
19.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SA
$49,600
NA
$11,500

Saudi Arabia performs better than Namibia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SA
76.7 yrs
NA
66.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SA
12.3
NA
29.4

Saudi Arabia generally does better on family life, though Namibia leads in education spending.

Data: Department of Zakat and Income Tax, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Windhoek Rain: 14.5 in/yr (368 mm)
80° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Riyadh Windhoek
Jan–Mar 75°/50°F (24°/10°C) 84°/63°F (29°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 101°/72°F (38°/22°C) 74°/50°F (23°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 109°/77°F (43°/25°C) 76°/49°F (24°/9°C)
Oct–Dec 84°/56°F (29°/13°C) 87°/61°F (30°/16°C)
View all months
Month Riyadh Windhoek
Jan 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.9°C) 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.7°C)
Feb 74°/49°F (23.3°/9.3°C) 84°/63°F (28.7°/17.0°C)
Mar 82°/56°F (27.7°/13.2°C) 81°/61°F (27.4°/15.9°C)
Apr 92°/65°F (33.3°/18.4°C) 78°/55°F (25.8°/12.9°C)
May 103°/74°F (39.4°/23.4°C) 74°/50°F (23.4°/9.8°C)
Jun 109°/78°F (42.6°/25.3°C) 69°/44°F (20.7°/6.9°C)
Jul 111°/80°F (43.7°/26.4°C) 70°/44°F (21.2°/6.9°C)
Aug 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.3°C) 75°/48°F (23.8°/8.9°C)
Sep 105°/73°F (40.6°/22.9°C) 82°/54°F (27.5°/12.4°C)
Oct 96°/65°F (35.5°/18.2°C) 85°/58°F (29.3°/14.7°C)
Nov 83°/56°F (28.1°/13.3°C) 86°/61°F (30.2°/16.2°C)
Dec 72°/47°F (22.1°/8.4°C) 89°/63°F (31.4°/17.2°C)

Data: National Center for Meteorology National Center for Meteorology, Namibia Meteorological Service Namibia Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Saudi Arabia and Namibia. To live, work, or study long-term in Namibia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Namibia's immigration authority.

Saudi Arabia passport

Saudi Arabia passport holder visiting Namibia

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

Namibia passport holder visiting Saudi Arabia

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

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Namibia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Namibia: 3.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Namibia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Namibia safe for expats?

Saudi Arabia performs better than Namibia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Namibia is 12.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Saudi Arabia.

How is healthcare in Namibia compared to Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Namibia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 5.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Namibia, compared to 30.8 in Saudi Arabia. Namibia scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Saudi Arabia: 74).

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

The average high temperature in Windhoek is 80°F, compared to 92°F in Riyadh. Windhoek receives around 14.5 in of rainfall per year, while Riyadh gets 4.4 in.

What language do they speak in Namibia?

The official languages in Namibia are Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga and Tswana. In Saudi Arabia, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

SA NA
Population 35,354,380 2,727,409
Currency Saudi Riyal (SAR) Namibian Dollar (NAD)
Languages Arabic Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga, Tswana
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +966 +264
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 10111