Hafar Al Batin, Saudi Arabia

With a population of just 65,747, Hafar Al Batin is a small desert outpost in Saudi Arabia's vast Eastern Province. The climate is oppressive, with scorching summers reaching up to 50°C and bitterly cold winters dipping below freezing. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the city was only recently incorporated into Saudi Arabia after a dispute with Kuwait.

While Hafar Al Batin was historically an important stop on the pilgrimage route to Mecca, it now serves primarily as a military town, with an army base and industrial park dominating the local economy. The nearest international airport is a grueling 450km drive away. Unless you have a specific need to be stationed in this remote corner of the kingdom, Hafar Al Batin offers little to recommend it as a place to live.