Riyadh is a magnet for expats, buzzing with a vibrant cultural scene and a fresh crop of restaurants popping up every week. But before you start exploring, it's time to pick the perfect place to live — and there’s no better way to get quickly settled than by renting an apartment or villa at one of the Saudi capital’s top compounds.
While it's not a must – with many opting for more budget-friendly apartment blocks dotted across the city – choosing a compound offers more than just a roof over your head.
These Western-style enclaves are perfect for making fast friends in ready-made communities with exceptional facilities like resort-style pools, gyms, music studios and more. Plus, compounds usually take care of local utilities, which means you can plug and play without the hassle of getting set up.
Popular spots have long waiting lists, so be sure to apply early, although several offer short-term nightly rentals as a temporary fix.
Keep in mind that in Riyadh, it's also common to pay a year's rent upfront, although more flexible monthly options are growing in popularity. Check in with your employer too — major companies often have direct deals with compounds or can help out with initial deposits and payments.
Whether you’re looking for somewhere family-friendly with easy access to the city’s top schools, upscale facilities that wouldn’t be out of place in a five-star hotel or a place to live that’s more low key, here are the best compounds in Riyadh for expats.
Al-Bustan Village
Set among 180 acres of lush, palm-fringed gardens, Al-Bustan offers sleek, minimalist villas and apartments that come with access to a wide range of top-tier amenities. Dive into resort-style island pools, unwind in sunken gardens, or hit the air-conditioned fitness complex with its summer-friendly 200-metre indoor running track. It’s a short stroll from the American International School and Deutsche Internationale Schule Riad, making it a top pick for expat families. Plus, some of the compound’s fully detached villas boast their own private offices and stunning cerulean blue pools.
Area: Al Aarid, north Riyadh
Facilities: beauty salon, bowling centre, cinema, football pitch, four swimming pools, golf suite, gym, Jacuzzi, meeting rooms, park with barbecue area, racquetball court, running track, sauna, spa, squash court, steam room, supermarket, table tennis, tennis courts, volleyball courts, yoga studio
Drive time to KAFD with average traffic: 30 minutes
Drive time to Kingdom Centre with average traffic: 40 minutes
Find out more about Al-Bustan Village
Al Hamra Oasis Village Compound
Just off the ring road that encircles Riyadh, the Al Hamra Oasis Village features bright, simply furnished villas and apartments with floor-to-ceiling windows. These earth-toned homes surround several shared swimming pools, giving a community feel to each cluster. Although there are plenty of shops on site (you’ll find a well-stocked Tamimi Supermarket, a cosy coffee spot, a tailor and pet supply store within the compound’s curved walls), the Granada Mall and its popular branch of Reel Cinemas are just a short drive away.
Area: Ghirnatah, northeast Riyadh
Facilities: beauty salon, billiard tables, bowling alley, coffee shop, five pools, gym, indoor tennis court, Jacuzzi, laundry, library, multi-purpose sports court, party hall, pet shop, restaurant, sauna, squash courts, steam room, supermarket, table tennis, tailoring shop, teen lounge, two outdoor tennis courts
Drive time to KAFD with average traffic: 25 minutes
Drive time to Kingdom Centre with average traffic: 30 minutes
Find out more about Al Hamra Oasis Village Compound
Al Nakhla Residential Resort
It’s near impossible to get bored at Al Nakhla Residential Resort, with residents getting access to some of the most extensive fitness, dining and social facilities of any compound in the city. There are dozens of pools scattered between the rows of villas and apartments, a dedicated cross-fit zone, a martial arts centre and even a VR gaming zone. The compound is geared towards families, with a special weekly social schedule for the little ones and six playgrounds to explore. Pets are also welcome at one of the city’s only dedicated dog parks.
Area: Qurtubah, northeast Riyadh
Facilities: 23 shaded pools, aerobics room, arts and crafts room, beauty salon, bowling alley, billiards room, business centre, café, cinema, cross-fit zone, dog park, gaming area, gym, indoor golf suite, martial arts centre, meeting rooms, multi-purpose sports court, nursery, playground, restaurant, running track, sauna, steam room, spa, spin cycling centre, supermarket, table tennis, teen room, TV room, water slides
Drive time to KAFD with average traffic: 20 minutes
Drive time to Kingdom Centre with average traffic: 15 minutes
Find out more about Al Nakhla Residential Resort
Antara Compound
Widely regarded by expats as one of Riyadh’s top spots to call home, the luxurious Antara Compound is a hot ticket with a long waiting list – and it's easy to see why. With ten chic neighborhoods named after European cities like Monaco and Marbella, the community boasts scenic parks and a central village featuring five curvy interconnected pools shaded by palm trees, a state-of-the-art fitness centre and elegant clubhouse. Residents enjoy high-end amenities like a music practice space, aerobic studio and serene adults-only pool for unwinding (kids get their own fun zone with a waterslide, and there’s also a pre-school on site).
Area: Diriyah, northwest Riyadh
Facilities: aerobic athletic studio, beauty salon, billiard room, bowling alley, business lounge, café, five swimming pools, gaming area, gym, indoor and outdoor running tracks, laundry, multi-purpose sports courts, music practice studio, nail bar, pre-school, restaurant, skate park, spa, squash courts, supermarket, tailoring shop, yoga and pilates studio
Drive time to KAFD with average traffic: 15 minutes
Drive time to Kingdom Centre with average traffic: 20 minutes
Find out more about Antara Compound
Arizona Golf Resort
The glittering centrepiece at Arizona Golf Resort is the nine-hole championship course, with wide, rolling greens that draw expats and visitors from all over the city — you'll also find a pro shop and driving range, plus roaming carts serving drinks and chilled towels. But there's plenty to do even if you're not a golf pro. Inspired by the US southwest, the resort offers American favorites like a baseball field – home to the Riyadh Youth Baseball and Softball Association League – a roller hockey rink, and its own farm housed in a charming wood-clad barn. This long-standing compound, established in 1997, fosters a tight-knit community vibe with its green spaces and neighbourhood cul-de-sacs, home to more than 30 nationalities.
Area: Qurtubah, northeast Riyadh
Facilities: amphitheatre, barbecue area, baseball field, basketball court, beauty salon, bowling alley, café, event hall, farm, game area, laundry, nursery, pre-school, restaurant, roller hockey rink, sauna, squash court, supermarket, teen lounge, tennis court, two swimming pools, supermarket, volleyball area
Drive time to KAFD with average traffic: 25 minutes
Drive time to Kingdom Centre with average traffic: 25 minutes
Find out more about Arizona Golf Resort
ARRAY Suites Olaya
Although not a traditional compound, the expat-focused ARRAY Suites building in Olaya – next to the iconic Kingdom Centre tower – stands out for its sophisticated apartments, elegant aesthetic and convenient location. Palettes of soft, neutral tones are punctuated with olive green accent walls and splashes of abstract art, with contemporary living rooms exuding a relaxed ambience with plush L-shaped sofas and throw pillows. The apartments’ open-plan layouts also integrate an island kitchen and dining area, illuminated by pendant lights that cast a warm and inviting glow. There aren’t as many facilities as at some of the larger compounds in the city, but the minimalist indoor pool area is an exceptional spot for unwinding after a hard day’s work — and rates include a once-weekly housekeeping service.
Area: Olaya, central Riyadh
Facilities: gym, restaurant, swimming pool
Drive time to KAFD with average traffic: 15 minutes
Drive time to Kingdom Centre with average traffic: 2 minutes
Find out more about ARRAY Suites Olaya
California Resort
Just next door to the Arizona Golf Resort, the California Resort is within easy walking distance of the Business Gate development, where dozens of the city’s top corporations have their offices, and the excellent spas and restaurants of the five-star Fairmont hotel. This classic American-style compound is known for its social vibe, with frequent movie nights, coffee mornings, sports days, music festivals and entertainment shows held around the resort’s pool area and green spaces.
Area: Qurtubah, northeast Riyadh
Facilities: basketball court, carpet shop, beauty salon, café, function hall, jewellery shop, laundry, racquetball court, recreation room, restaurant, spa, squash court, tailoring shop, three swimming pools, supermarket, tennis court
Drive time to KAFD with average traffic: 25 minutes
Drive time to Kingdom Centre with average traffic: 25 minutes
Find out more about California Resort
Flow Narjis
Flow's chic two and three-bedroom apartments draw on an understated aesthetic that makes use of "earth-based materials and designs", with a palette of earth tones, creams and subtle golds evoking Saudi's desert sands. Robust oak tables and woven rattan rugs are among the custom furniture pieces in each apartment, which are flooded with natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows that open up to balconies looking out over the city. Around the compound, there's a sleek indoor pool and hot tub (which Flow says is "arguably one of the better indoor pools in Narjis"), state-of-the-art gym and wood sauna — plus a bowling alley, billiards lounge, ping pong space and gaming centre.
Area: Narjis, north Riyadh
Facilities: co-working space, laundry, supermarket, gym, ping pong area, gaming centre, bowling alley, swimming pool, wood sauna, billiards lounge
Drive time to KAFD with average traffic: 25 minutes
Drive time to Kingdom Centre with average traffic: 45 minutes
