| Quick summary |
|
|
|
|
| Preferred city for incorporation of the company? |
Dammam |
Jeddah |
Riyadh |
Medina |
| Most popular business sector? |
Oil & Gas |
Manufacturing of textile |
Manufacturing and finance |
General retail |
| Specific attractive Government incentives available? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Oil fields available in this region? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| CBD monthly office rental per sq m? |
US$22 |
US$26 |
US$28 |
US$22 |
| Average skilled labour monthly salary? |
US$2,500 |
US$2,500 |
US$2,500 |
US$2,500 |
| Average unskilled labour monthly salary? |
US$900 |
US$900 |
US$900 |
US$900 |
| Minimum monthly wage for local employees? |
US$800 |
US$800 |
US$800 |
US$800 |
| English spoken by what % of population? |
10% |
25% |
35% |
20% |
| Computer literacy rate? (% of population) |
50% |
65% |
65% |
60% |
| Literacy rate? (% of population) |
87% |
94% |
94% |
90% |
| Proximity of sea port to the main city? |
19km |
24km |
394km |
152km |
| Proximity of airport in kilometres to the main city? |
35km |
45km |
28km |
15km |
| Local Municipality business location licensing body |
Eastern Province Municipality |
Holy Makkah Municipality |
Al Riyadh Municipality |
Al Madinah Regional Municipality |
| Logistical considerations |
|
|
|
|
| Attractive Region for oil and gas business? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Attractive Region for foreign investment? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Attractive Region for an export-oriented business? |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| CBD monthly office rental per sq m? |
US$33 |
US$22 |
US$31 |
US$25 |
| Average monthly electricity prices? (per Kwh) |
US$0.042 |
US$0.042 |
US$0.042 |
US$0.042 |
| City airport with flights to Europe and America? |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Proximity of rail in kilometres to the main city? |
18km |
5km |
6km |
2km |
| Quality of internet broadband and Wi-Fi? |
Good |
Good |
Good |
Good |
| Total population? (in millions) |
5 |
8.5 |
8.3 |
2.1 |
| Local purchasing power (GDP per capita)? |
US$55,940 |
US$31,273 |
US$32,372 |
US$24,000 |
| Business output market size? (in US$ billions) |
388 |
135 |
137 |
83 |
| Market size relative to the economy? |
60% |
21% |
21% |
13% |
| Corporate Banking and Finance considerations |
|
|
|
|
| Is the main city an industrial hub? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Is the main city an oil industry hub? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| How many global banks are based in the region? |
1 |
1 |
12 |
1 |
| How many KSA banks with local branches? |
11 |
4 |
23 |
19 |
| Recommended bank for corporate banking? |
SABB |
Samba |
QNB |
Bank Al Jazira |
| Client must travel for account opening? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
| Quality of bank customer services? |
Good |
Good |
Very Good |
Good |
| Quality of online banking services? |
Good |
Good |
Excellent |
Good |
| English e-banking platform available? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Does the Region have a reputable financial district? |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Does the Region have a local Stock Exchange? |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Are there Private Equity Funds/VCs in the Region? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Expatriate employment considerations |
|
|
|
|
| Average skilled labour monthly salary? |
US$2,500 |
US$2,500 |
US$2,500 |
US$2,500 |
| Average unskilled labour monthly salary? |
US$900 |
US$900 |
US$900 |
US$900 |
| Minimum monthly wage for local employees? |
US$800 |
US$800 |
US$800 |
US$800 |
| Is there a large expatriate community in the main city? |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
| What seasons/month should travel to this region be avoided? |
July-August |
July-August |
June-August |
July-Sep |
| International schools for children of expatriate employees? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Will I find European F&B products in the supermarkets? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Mercer Survey Ranking for global cities? |
Not ranked |
165 |
164 |
Not ranked |
| Is the main city of the Region safe for expatriates? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| How many hospitals and health centres in this region? |
46 |
31 |
33 |
20 |
| Accounting and tax considerations |
|
|
|
|
| Monthly and quarterly tax filing required? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
| Business incentives offered by the national government? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
