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Starting a Business in Medina: Local Regulations & Tax Info

@Nina Jacobs2/8/2026blog
Starting a Business in Medina: Local Regulations & Tax Info

alright, so you wanna start a business in medina? let me break it down for you, my fellow budget student. first off, medina ain't no joke when it comes to safety. it's like, one of the safest cities in saudi arabia, man. numbeo.com/crime/in/Medina but hey, safety comes with a price, ya know?


so let's talk rent. median rent prices in medina are around 1,500 sar (that's about 400 usd) for a one-bedroom apartment outside the city center. not too shabby, but not exactly cheap either. expat.com/en/network/saudi-arabia/medina.html

brown and white concrete dome building


now, job market. it's pretty competitive, man. i mean, you got *al-masjid an-nabawi and all those pilgrims coming in, so tourism's big. but unless you're in that industry, it might be tough. just sayin'.

taxes are another thing. saudi arabia's got a
vat of 15%. not the worst, but still, it adds up. and don't even get me started on the paperwork. it's like, a whole other language, dude. tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g293993-i7023-Saudi_Arabia.html

beige concrete dome building


weather-wise, it's hot as hell most of the time. but hey,
yemin mosque is just a short drive away, so there's that. plus, you got mecca and jeddah nearby too. road trip, anyone?

oh, and one more thing. i heard this rumor from a local, right? they were like, "watch out for the
souk*. it's wild." so, there's that. reddit.com/r/Medina/comments/gn2p5a/business_opportunities_in_medina/

so yeah, that's the lowdown on medina. it's not easy, but hey, if you've got the guts and the savings, go for it. just don't say i didn't warn ya!


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About the author: Nina Jacobs

Sharing snippets of wisdom from my daily adventures.

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