Saudi Arabia ‘allowing’ wealthy foreigners to buy alcohol

Saudi Arabia has quietly begun allowing wealthy foreign residents to buy alcohol, marking a major shift after a 73-year ban, with commentators expecting the policy to eventually extend to tourists.

In Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, an affluent enclave long known for its embassies and upscale residences, a discreet, unmarked beige complex has become a testing ground for one of the kingdom’s most sensitive reforms: the controlled sale of alcohol to non-Muslim foreigners.

Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s two holiest sites, banned alcohol sales in 1952. But under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s reform drive, the kingdom has reopened cinemas, hosted major music festivals, lifted the ban on women driving and curbed the powers of the religious police, presenting itself as more moderate and investment-friendly.

The liquor store first opened in January 2024 but was initially limited to non-Muslim diplomats. Under new rules introduced quietly at the end of 2025, wealthy non-Muslim foreign residents can now also purchase beer, wine and spirits.

To qualify, expatriates must either hold a Premium Residency permit costing 100,000 riyals ($27,000; £19,300) annually, or earn at least 50,000 riyals a month. Premium Residency is typically open to senior executives, investors and highly skilled professionals. Customers must present a residence ID card showing religion and status, while those without the permit also need a company salary certificate. Tourists are not eligible.

Several buyers told the BBC they learned of the change through word of mouth, as there has been no official announcement and the shop does not appear on online maps. “A friend just shared the location with me on Google Maps,” said one Asian expatriate.

Inside, mobile phones are sealed in tamper-proof bags and queues can last more than an hour. One European expatriate described the store as “well-stocked”, with prices “two to three times” higher than in Western markets, but cheaper than Saudi Arabia’s black market.

“A bottle of Johnny Walker Black Label whisky cost me $124 (£90). But I don’t mind paying the premium,” said a British company executive.

Alcohol purchases are controlled through a points-based monthly quota system that allows dozens of litres of spirits per person, customers say, with diplomats receiving discounts.