Saudi Arabia has taken another step in loosening its decades-old restrictions on alcohol, signalling a major shift in social policy inside the Islamic kingdom. For the first time, a limited segment of non-Muslim foreign residents — specifically those earning around USD 13,300 (approximately ₹12 lakh) per month — are now permitted to buy alcohol directly from an authorised liquor store in Riyadh. The move follows quietly expanding reforms under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as the kingdom continues to reshape its global image and economy.
The change is striking, especially in a nation that hosts Islam’s two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, and where many Muslims refrain from alcohol entirely based on Quranic teachings. For more than seven decades, public sale of liquor had been prohibited, and Saudi Arabia enforced one of the world’s strictest bans. Until recently, the only legal pathway for alcohol consumption was via diplomatic channels — diplomats could import bottles in sealed consignments, and ordinary residents had no access whatsoever.
However, the tide began to turn in January 2024, when the country’s first government-regulated liquor store opened in Riyadh. Initially, it catered only to foreign diplomats and holders of Premium Residency status, such as major investors and entrepreneurs. They were required to book slots through a mobile app, obtain clearance from the foreign ministry and follow strict monthly purchasing quotas.
Now, Riyadh has extended access beyond diplomats — but only to wealthy non-Muslim expatriates. Customers are required to show proof of income at the counter, effectively limiting alcohol purchases to higher-earning professionals. For context, the average monthly income in Saudi Arabia is around USD 2,750, far below the eligibility threshold. The selective nature of access signals that the kingdom is moving cautiously, balancing economic ambitions with conservative social foundations.
The shift aligns with the sweeping reforms under the Vision 2030 programme, which aims to diversify the economy away from oil and transform Saudi Arabia into a global hub for tourism, business and major international events. Relaxing alcohol rules is seen as a step toward creating a more familiar social environment for expatriates, investors and global corporations that the kingdom is competing to attract. New liquor stores are expected to open in Jeddah and Dhahran, expanding the experiment beyond the capital.
Alcohol was originally banned in 1952, after the intoxicated son of King Abdulaziz shot and killed a British diplomat — an event that triggered the country’s strict prohibition law. The latest development does not repeal that prohibition for Saudi citizens or for Muslims, but it signals a gradual recalibration of social policy as the country tries to balance religious identity with international integration.
Saudi Arabia’s reforms — from lifting the women-driving ban to expanding entertainment and tourism sectors — have been dramatic and rapid. With the 2034 FIFA World Cup set to take place in the kingdom, efforts to create a more accessible and globally familiar cultural environment will likely continue. The alcohol policy update is one more sign that the country is reshaping aspects of daily life in pursuit of economic transformation, even as it navigates deep-rooted religious sensitivities.
