Accommodation search in Riyadh for 3 young expats

ontext and budget

We've set aside a budget of 120,000 SAR annually among the three of us for rent.

For this, you can get a decent furnished three bed on a 'non luxury compound' that will have three double bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms etc - your budget should suffice if you look in the correct rental brackets.

Questions on Compounds and accommodation

Regulations and culture: Is it possible for two guys and a girl to share an apartment within a compound? Are there any cultural or regulatory restrictions we should be aware of?

Should be fine on most compounds.

Associated costs: Apart from rent, what other costs typically come with living in a compound, such as water, electricity, maintenance, and security?

Depends on the compound - some are all inclusive of utilities, some not. Some will include water, power but not interent. Variable and should be part of the search you undertake. Security and maintenance are 'all in'. Typically you will sign a 12 month lease and pay either 100% upfront or in halves or quarters (which tends to increase the rent)

Housing search: What's the typical process of finding a compound? Are there specialized agents or agencies that can guide us?

There are websites lisiting compunds (rightcompound and the usual search engines for non compound residences)

Facilities and Services: Do compounds offer additional amenities like gyms, pools, or recreational areas? Are there extra costs involved?

Yes, most will have some if not all of these and at no extra charge.

Contracts: How long do rental contracts usually last? What happens if we wish to end our lease early?

As above - they are normally 12 month terms. Some have penalties for early ending of the lease, some not. There is not one standard approach.

Just to add onto this.  The 2 guys and girl will not be an issue unless you land in a family compound with....let's say, ethnically diverse family groups...........and at that stage, people complaining (some people can't resist being moral guardians) can lead to issues.  And I have seen this happen in the lower end compounds. This is more of an issue in your budget.............top end compounds, which cost a lot more, don't have such problems........mainly because they are westerner focused.    So pick your compound wisely and be upfront about your living arrangements so it doesn't come as a suprise to compound management.