How to Furnish Your Apartment in Riyadh as an Expat (Budget Edition)

If you just moved to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and are wondering how to furnish your apartment on a budget, I’m going to share some of the best places you can check out.

When you are renting an apartment in Riyadh (especially outside a compound), it is very common for the unit to be “unfurnished.”

This doesn’t just mean no sofa. It usually means no curtain rails, no kitchen cabinets, no air conditioners, and zero appliances.

A year ago, my husband and I moved into a completely empty apartment. We got lucky with existing kitchen cabinets, but we had to source everything else ourselves.

In this guide, I’ll share where to buy your furniture and home essentials in Riyadh without breaking the bank, while still achieving that Pinterest-perfect aesthetic

Where To Buy New Furniture in Riyadh: IKEA

Best For: Work Desks, Dining Tables.

IKEA is great for specific essentials, but I’d highly recommend you not to buy everything here. Because some items just aren’t worth the price tag.

Since I work from home, I wanted to invest in a good desk. So we bought high-quality working desk and it was worth it!

We also picked up our dining table from IKEA because their designs are simple, clean, and fit perfectly in smaller Riyadh apartments. I like that it’s durable too

If you live close to the North Riyadh, you can go to the IKEA Thumamah branch. It is usually less crowded than the busy Ring Road East branch.

Where To Buy New Furniture in Riyadh: Pan Home Online

Here is a secret most people don’t know: Pan Home (formerly Pan Emirates) has a huge price difference between their physical showrooms and their website.

I also found out about this through a friend. If you walk into the Pan Home physcial store in Riyadh, the prices can feel quite expensive. But their online deals are just incredible.

I bought my Coffee Table and TV Stand from their online store for less than $150 (SAR 560) in total.

Here’s a sneak peek of our simple, yet following-exactly-my-Pinterest-board furniture:

Where To Buy New Furniture in Riyadh: Haraj Market

When people hear “Haraj” in Riyadh, they think of dusty, used furniture. But Haraj is actually a massive market space that sells brand new items too, often from local workshops or overstock.

I got an entire NEW bedroom set here for only $400 (approx. SAR 1,600). Yes, you read that right. That price included:

• The Bed Frame
• A Makeup Table (Vanity)
• A Chest of Drawers
• Two Nightstands

If you have ever tried to buy custom curtains in Riyadh, you know they can cost a fortune (usually 600+ SAR per window).

At Haraj, I found a shop selling high-quality curtain sets, including the heavy blackout fabric, the sheer layer, AND the rod—for just 350 SAR ($93) per window.

We bought one for every room. They look custom-made, feel luxurious, and buying them as a complete kit saved us the headache of hunting for matching rods at a hardware store.

You have to haggle, and you have to dig around, but the savings are massive compared to buying from a big showroom. This is my go-to store in Haraj 👇 the sales guy is very polite and honest.

Location: Haraj Market in Riyadh

Where To Buy New Furniture in Riyadh: Local Stores

Don’t underestimate the small, local furniture shops you see driving around neighborhoods like Al Munsiyah or along Dammam Road.

At these local shops, you can often customize the fabric and size of your sofa. They have great designs (often Turkish or Modern styles) and the quality is surprisingly durable.

I bought a huge L-Shape Sofa and a beautiful Turkish Carpet from a local shop in Al Munsiyah. It looks custom-made, is incredibly comfortable, and cost a fraction of what I would have paid at a mall.

Where To Buy New Furniture in Riyadh: Nice

Best For: Kitchenware, Bedding, and “Pinterest” Decor.

Nice is where you go when you want your home to look expensive without actually spending much. While they do sell some furniture, they are the kings of home accessories.

I shop here for dinnerware sets, gold-accented coffee trays, and high-quality bed linens. They often have “Buy 1 Get 1” sales or “Last Chance” sections where you can find aesthetic vases and lamps for under 50 SAR. If you want those small details that make an apartment feel like a home, this is the spot

Where To Buy New Appliances in Riyadh: Almanea

In the Middle East, it’s impossible to live without AC. Most apartments require you to buy your own “Window” or “Split” units.

One hard lesson we learned: Never buy a used AC. Our first used unit cranked our electricity bill up by an extra $100 a month until we replaced it.

Almanea is the go-to for new appliances. They often have bundle deals on brands like Haam or Samsung.

• Pro tips: Make sure you buy an AC that has a Heat/Cool function. Riyadh can drop to 0°C in the winter, and since most apartments don’t have central heating, your AC will be your only source of warmth.

Where To Buy New Appliances in Riyadh: Noon & Amazon

For everything else such as kettles, microwaves, coffee makers, don’t waste time driving around. Amazon.sa and Noon are the kings of e-commerce here.

However, delivery in Riyadh is a unique skill. Here is how to survive it:

Survival Guide for New Expats: Ordering Online in Riyadh

As a new expat, you might find that delivery in Riyadh works a bit differently than what you’re used to.

Here, drivers and delivery partners rarely follow the exact address you input into an app or website; instead, they will almost always call you.

To make your life easier and reduce the stress of missing a package, follow this guide:

Whatsapp: Even if you provide a perfect address, drivers will often message you asking for your location. You can just send them your home address link on Google via Whatsapp.

Register Your National Address: Sign up for your official National Address via the SPL (Saudi Post) website. If you are renting, your landlord should already have the building’s National Address on hand—just ask them for it. Having your short code (e.g., RXY 1234) helps professional delivery services find your exact building on Google Maps without the guesswork.

Answer Unknown Calls: In your home country, an unknown number is most likely a spam bot. In Riyadh, it is almost certainly your delivery driver. If you’re expecting a package, always remember to pick up the phone, as they usually won’t leave the item at the door without speaking to you first.