Saudi Arabia Quietly Eases 73-Year Alcohol Ban for Select Foreign Residents

In a quiet but significant move signaling continued social liberalization under Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Salman’s Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has recently eased its seven-decade-old ban on alcohol sales,
expanding access beyond foreign diplomats to a select group of high-value non-Muslim foreign
residents.

The nationwide prohibition on alcohol, which has been in place since 1952, remains generally upheld for
Saudi citizens and the wider expatriate community. However, the rule changes focus on controlled,
restricted access for specific non-Muslim foreigners.
The initial, and major, step in loosening the ban occurred in January 2024, when the Kingdom opened its
first and only licensed alcohol store in the Diplomatic Quarter of Riyadh.

This store was exclusively reserved for registered non-Muslim foreign diplomats, who were previously
allowed to import alcohol via diplomatic shipments, a process the government sought to regulate.
The latest, and broader, policy shift was quietly implemented in November 2025, according to reports
confirmed by diplomatic sources and foreign residents.

The sole Riyadh store, operating under strict regulations, began allowing two groups of non-Muslim
residents to purchase alcoholic beverages:
Premium Residency Visa Holders: Foreigners who have secured Saudi Arabia’s “Premium Residency”
status, which requires meeting several financial criteria, including a significant one-time payment of
800,000 riyals (approximately $213,000). Reports from late November 2025 indicated that these high-
net-worth residents were successfully purchasing alcohol at the previously diplomat-only store.
High-Earning Expatriates: Further relaxations were reported shortly after, in early December 2025,
allowing non-Muslim expatriates who earn a minimum monthly salary of 50,000 riyals (approximately
$13,300) to also qualify for purchases.

Access to the liquor store is tightly controlled. Customers must be non-Muslim, register via a
government-linked application (such as the “Diplo” app initially used for diplomats), and adhere to a
monthly quota system for purchases.
To ensure discretion, customers are reportedly required to place their mobile phones in special pouches
upon entry, preventing any unauthorized photography or sharing of images from inside the shop.
The incremental changes are viewed by analysts as a calculated effort to make the Kingdom more
attractive to international talent and investors needed to realize Vision 2030, which includes massive
tourism and infrastructure projects like NEOM.

Furthermore, there have been circulating reports of plans to open additional controlled alcohol shops in
other major cities, including Jeddah and Dhahran, possibly by 2026, further cementing the strategy of
selective, tightly managed liberalization.
The government itself has made no public announcement regarding the expansion of retail sales,
maintaining the low-key, deliberate pace of social reform.

By Oyinkansola Shittu.

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