Saudi Arabia to open two new alcohol stores for non-Muslims as access gradually expands 

SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Arabia is preparing to open two additional alcohol stores for non-Muslim residents, marking another step in the kingdom’s gradual and tightly controlled expansion of alcohol access.  

According to sources cited by Reuters, the new outlets are expected to launch in 2026, though authorities have not released an official timeline. 

The planned locations include a store within an Aramco-owned compound in Dhahran, designated for non-Muslim foreign employees, and another outlet in Jeddah serving non-Muslim diplomats, including those affiliated with honorary consulates in the port city.  

These establishments will follow the kingdom’s first alcohol shop in more than 70 years, which opened discreetly last year in Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter. 

Recent reports indicate that access to the Riyadh store has widened. According to Semafor, premium residency holders were informally informed that they could purchase alcohol at the outlet, marking the first time permission has been extended beyond diplomats.  

Prior to this, alcohol was typically acquired through diplomatic shipments, informal home brewing or illicit markets. 

The expansion comes amid broader efforts by Saudi authorities to regulate and formalise the distribution of alcohol while maintaining strict oversight consistent with cultural and religious norms.  

The controlled introduction of regulated outlets forms part of the kingdom’s broader transformation agenda, which places tourism and economic diversification at its core. 

Saudi Arabia aims to attract 150 million visitors annually by 2030, supported by investments in hotels, entertainment districts and large-scale destination projects. 

Despite these ambitions, the kingdom faces stiff competition from neighbouring Gulf countries that offer more liberal policies on entertainment and leisure. Officials reportedly view limited alcohol access as one lever to make the local environment more attractive to global professionals and investors. 

The premium residency programme, introduced in 2019 and later expanded to include high-earning expatriates and individuals in specialised professions, has become a key tool for attracting foreign talent.  

Semafor noted that Saudi Arabia is “moving steadily to broaden access to alcohol,” seeking to strike a balance between appealing to an international workforce and upholding Islamic prohibitions. 

As the custodian of Islam’s holiest sites, the kingdom continues to navigate the challenge of introducing social reforms while preserving religious expectations.  

The planned openings underscore Saudi Arabia’s measured approach to modernisation under its long-term development strategy. 

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