Finding Accommodation

The University of New Haven – Riyadh does not operate its own student housing, but the good news is that Riyadh has a large and competitively priced residential rental market. Furnished apartments and long-stay hotel apartments are widely available.

Companies That Can Help

We are working to identify local companies that can support students with finding and securing accommodation in Riyadh. The following company offers services that may be useful to students relocating to the city.

Searching on Your Own

The College of Business and Digital Innovation is in the Forum at Misk City, in the Irqah district on the western side of Riyadh. Irqah is a well-established residential area, but it is one of the city’s more premium neighborhoods and may not suit every budget. Students can also live in other parts of Riyadh and commute to campus.

Getting Around

Bus route 680 enters Irqah from the rest of the city and connects with Metro line 2 (the Red Line) at King Saud University. The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has also announced plans to extend the metro to Misk City, although this work has not yet been completed. Ride-hailing apps such as Careem and Uber also operate across the city.

Darb

The official Riyadh public transport app. Plan journeys by bus and metro, view live bus tracking, check routes and buy tickets. Available in Arabic and English.

Download on the

App Store

Get it on

Google Play

Finding an Apartment

Apartments are available across a range of price points in districts throughout Riyadh, from studios to larger two- and three-bedroom flats. Furnished and semi-furnished options can make settling in easier if you are arriving from outside Riyadh. You may wish to start your search four to six weeks before you plan to arrive.

Two apps dominate the rental market in Riyadh. Both are free, available on Android and iOS, and list properties directly from landlords and agents. You can filter by location, price, number of bedrooms and whether the apartment is furnished.

Bayut KSA

One of the largest property platforms in the Kingdom, with detailed listings, photos and map-based search.

Download on the

App Store

Get it on

Google Play

Aqar

A popular Saudi property app with a large number of listings across Riyadh. Particularly strong for direct-from-owner rentals.

Download on the

App Store

Get it on

Google Play

When You First Arrive

If you have not yet signed a lease before arriving in Riyadh, serviced hotel apartments may be a practical short-term option. These are furnished suites with a separate kitchen, bedroom and sitting room, so they feel more like a temporary flat than a hotel. Most include Wi-Fi, housekeeping and parking.

Several Saudi chains operate across Riyadh, including Boudl Apart’ and Braira. If you are planning a longer stay, it may be worth contacting hotels directly to ask about monthly rates, as these can sometimes be lower than the published nightly price. A stay of two to three weeks is often enough time to view apartments and finalize a lease. You can check availability and compare rates on their websites or through booking platforms such as:

• Almosafer – a Saudi travel platform with strong coverage of local hotel chains.
• Booking.com – a global hotel booking platform widely used in Saudi Arabia.

Future Student Housing at Misk City

Misk City is developing a co-living residential community within the wider development. When complete, this will offer purpose-built student accommodation just minutes from campus, with furnished studio apartments, shared amenities and landscaped courtyards. The project is still a few years away, but we will share more details as it progresses.