- By Ajeet Kumar
- Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:34 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Saudi Arabia New Alcohol Rules: Saudi Arabia has eased its long-standing alcohol restrictions for non-Muslim foreign residents — but only for those who earn a high income. According to a report by Bloomberg, the kingdom will now allow alcohol purchases for non-Muslims making more than 50,000 riyals ($13,300) per month, a threshold far above the national average salary of 10,250 riyals ($2,750).
The move marks another step in Saudi Arabia's gradual social reforms, even as Islamic principles continue to shape daily life and law across the country. While most devout Muslims avoid alcohol in line with Quranic teachings, the new rule creates a controlled exception for wealthy expatriates.
Saudi’s New Alcohol Access Rules
Eligibility for consuming alcohol in Saudi
To access alcohol, eligible residents must show a salary certificate before entering Riyadh’s only liquor store, which previously served only foreign diplomats. The store recently expanded access to non-Muslims with premium residency, and the latest rule now opens its doors to a broader-- but financially limited-- group of foreigners.
The launch of outlets in the eastern province of Dhahran and one for diplomats in the port city of Jeddah would be a further milestone in efforts, led by de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to open up the country.
The kingdom, which is the birthplace of Islam, last year opened an alcohol store serving non-Muslim diplomats in the capital Riyadh - the first such outlet since a ban was brought in 73 years ago.
Store planned in Aramco Compound: Report
The new store in Dhahran will be set up in a compound owned by Aramco, one of the three people who talked to news agency Reuters said.
That store would be open for non-Muslims working for Aramco, added the source, who said Saudi authorities had informed them of the plan.
Two of the sources also told Reuters that a third liquor store was also in the works for non-Muslim diplomats in the city of Jeddah, where many foreign countries have consuls. Both stores were expected to open in 2026, but no timelines had been released, two of the sources said.
The government media office did not immediately reply to questions over the plans for the stores in both locations, which were previously unreported. Aramco declined to comment.
There was no officially announced change made to regulations after the opening of the Riyadh store in a nondescript building in the diplomatic quarter known to some diplomats as the "booze bunker".
The Riyadh store's customer base was recently expanded to include non-Muslim Saudi Premium Residency holders, two of the sources said. Premium residencies have been awarded to entrepreneurs, major investors and those with special talents.
Before the Riyadh store, alcohol was largely only available through diplomatic mail, the black market or home brewing.
(With inputs from agency)