Saudi Arabia quietly expands alcohol access to premium residency holders in Riyadh 

SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Arabia has begun easing access to alcohol by allowing non-Muslim holders of premium residency permits to purchase alcoholic beverages from a shop in Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, according to reports from the U.S. outlet Semafor. 

The outlet, which previously served only foreign diplomats, has recently admitted a new category of customers under a policy shift that has not been publicly announced. 

Visitors told Semafor that premium residency holders were informed informally that they could shop at the store, marking the first time access has been granted to non-diplomatic expatriates.  

The development comes as Saudi authorities continue efforts to formalise and regulate alcohol availability while maintaining strict oversight in line with the country’s cultural and religious norms. 

The measure forms part of the kingdom’s broader push to boost tourism as a central component of its economic diversification agenda. Saudi Arabia aims to draw 150 million tourists annually by 2030 and is investing heavily in new hotels, entertainment districts, and destination megaprojects.  

Despite these initiatives, it continues to face competition from neighbouring Gulf states known for more relaxed policies on entertainment and leisure. 

The alcohol shop in Riyadh opened last year to streamline access for diplomats, who previously relied on shipments to secure their supplies. Extending access to premium residency holders represents a cautious, incremental shift, expanding privileges to a select group of high-income foreign workers and investors.  

Saudi Arabia launched the premium residency scheme in 2019, later widening eligibility to include expatriates earning more than 80,000 riyals per month or working in designated high-skilled professions. 

Semafor reported that the kingdom is “moving steadily to broaden access to alcohol,” balancing efforts to make the environment more appealing to global talent while upholding Islamic prohibitions. 

As custodian of Islam’s two holiest sites, Saudi Arabia faces a complex task of fostering openness without appearing to compromise religious principles. 

For decades, expatriates without diplomatic status have produced alcohol privately at home, with authorities generally tolerating the practice as long as it remained discreet and non-commercial.  

Reports have also noted that alcohol is sometimes served within private residences of prominent families and officials. 

Rumours of wider relaxation of alcohol restrictions have circulated for several years, especially as hotels and restaurants increasingly incorporate bar-like spaces offering mocktails and alcohol-free beer.  

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