Saudi Arabia has further eased alcohol restrictions for a select group of non-Muslim foreign residents.
The update comes shortly after premium residency holders were permitted to buy alcohol at the kingdom’s first regulated retail outlet in Riyadh.
Residents reported that eligible non-Muslim foreigners earning at least 50,000 riyals per month are now able to buy products at the store, located in the capital’s diplomatic quarter. Individuals said staff verified residency status and salary information through official government platforms before completing any transaction.
The Riyadh outlet, opened in early 2024 for accredited diplomatic personnel, has seen a sharp rise in activity since the policy adjustments. Sources familiar with the process noted that more than 12,500 premium visa holders have made purchases since the initial relaxation.
Saudi authorities have not issued public statements regarding the updates to the regulations. However, industry sources indicated plans to open additional controlled-access alcohol shops in Jeddah and Dhahran by 2026, though official confirmation has not been provided.
Despite these changes, alcohol remains tightly regulated in the kingdom, which maintains a decades-long prohibition rooted in religious and legal frameworks.














