Moving to Syria from Saudi Arabia

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Saudi Arabia to Syria — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Saudi Arabia to Syria. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Damascus averages 78°F vs 92°F in Riyadh, making it significantly cooler.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Syria

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

Key Indicator Comparison

How Saudi Arabia and Syria stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

per 100,000 people per year

SA
0.8
SY
2.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SA
18.5
SY
29.9

Saudi Arabia performs better than Syria across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SA
$3,475
SY
$122
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SA
30.8
SY
11.9

Syria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Saudi Arabia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SA
91.0
SY
83.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SA
18.5t
SY
1.3t

Syria 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
SY
7.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SA
974.2%
SY
124.4%

Saudi Arabia generally does better on infrastructure, though Syria 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%
SY
13.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SA
$49,600
SY
$2,900

Saudi Arabia performs better than Syria 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
SY
74.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SA
12.3
SY
15.9

Saudi Arabia performs better than Syria across all family life metrics.

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

Damascus Rain: 5.3 in/yr (134 mm)
78° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Riyadh Damascus
Jan–Mar 75°/50°F (24°/10°C) 60°/35°F (15°/2°C)
Apr–Jun 101°/72°F (38°/22°C) 85°/51°F (29°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 109°/77°F (43°/25°C) 96°/60°F (35°/15°C)
Oct–Dec 84°/56°F (29°/13°C) 70°/40°F (21°/5°C)
View all months
Month Riyadh Damascus
Jan 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.9°C) 55°/33°F (12.6°/0.4°C)
Feb 74°/49°F (23.3°/9.3°C) 59°/34°F (14.8°/1.3°C)
Mar 82°/56°F (27.7°/13.2°C) 66°/39°F (18.9°/3.7°C)
Apr 92°/65°F (33.3°/18.4°C) 76°/45°F (24.5°/7.0°C)
May 103°/74°F (39.4°/23.4°C) 85°/51°F (29.7°/10.5°C)
Jun 109°/78°F (42.6°/25.3°C) 94°/58°F (34.2°/14.2°C)
Jul 111°/80°F (43.7°/26.4°C) 98°/62°F (36.5°/16.9°C)
Aug 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.3°C) 97°/62°F (36.2°/16.5°C)
Sep 105°/73°F (40.6°/22.9°C) 92°/55°F (33.4°/13.0°C)
Oct 96°/65°F (35.5°/18.2°C) 82°/48°F (28.0°/8.9°C)
Nov 83°/56°F (28.1°/13.3°C) 69°/39°F (20.3°/4.0°C)
Dec 72°/47°F (22.1°/8.4°C) 58°/34°F (14.2°/1.3°C)

Data: National Center for Meteorology National Center for Meteorology, Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Saudi Arabia passport

Saudi Arabia passport holder visiting Syria

Visa Free
Saudi Arabia passport holders can enter Syria without a visa.
Syria passport

Syria passport holder visiting Saudi Arabia

Visa Required
Syria 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 Syria?

With 7.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Syria can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Saudi Arabia and Syria.

Is Syria safe for expats?

Saudi Arabia performs better than Syria across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Syria is 2.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Saudi Arabia.

How is healthcare in Syria compared to Saudi Arabia?

Syria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Saudi Arabia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 11.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Syria, compared to 30.8 in Saudi Arabia. Syria scores 64 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Saudi Arabia: 74).

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

The average high temperature in Damascus is 78°F, compared to 92°F in Riyadh. Damascus receives around 5.3 in of rainfall per year, while Riyadh gets 4.4 in.

What language do they speak in Syria?

Both Saudi Arabia and Syria share the same official language: Arabic.

Share this

At a Glance

SA SY
Population 35,354,380 21,563,800
Currency Saudi Riyal (SAR) Syrian Pound (SYP)
Languages Arabic Arabic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +966 +963
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911