Informed sources told Reuters that Saudi Arabia intends to open two new stores selling alcoholic beverages, one of them for non Muslim foreign employees at the oil giant Aramco, as part of the Kingdom’s efforts to ease restrictions on alcohol.
Opening a store in the eastern city of Dhahran and another for diplomats in the coastal city of Jeddah will represent another step in the openness drive led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom’s de facto ruler.
Last year, the Kingdom opened a store selling alcoholic beverages for non Muslim diplomats in the capital Riyadh, the first outlet of its kind since the ban was imposed 73 years ago.
Source: A Store Inside the Aramco Compound
One of the three sources who spoke to Reuters said the new store in Dhahran will be set up inside a compound owned by Aramco, noting that it will be accessible to non Muslims working for the oil giant and that Saudi authorities have informed them of the plan.
Two sources said work is underway to establish a third store selling alcoholic beverages for non Muslim diplomats in the city of Jeddah, where many honorary consulates are located.
The two sources expect the stores to open in 2026, although no timelines have been officially announced.
No official changes to regulations have been announced since the opening of the Riyadh store, located in a building inside the diplomatic quarter and known among some diplomats as the “liquor bunker”.
Meanwhile, diplomats and residents in Saudi Arabia told Agence France Presse that the Kingdom has eased restrictions on purchasing alcohol for foreigners holding “Special Residency” permits, in another indication of its push toward further social openness.
AFP spoke to two diplomats and two residents holding the special residency visa who confirmed that foreigners present in the Kingdom under special visas have been able, at least since Friday, to purchase alcohol.
They said that non Muslims who hold what is known as the “Special Residency” can now purchase alcohol from the country’s only liquor store, which opened in Riyadh in January 2024 and was previously restricted to diplomats only.
An expatriate resident, who refused to reveal his identity, said, “I heard about it from friends… so I went there two days ago and it worked.”
He added, “This saved me a lot of money compared to what I used to pay on the black market… finally we can buy alcohol.”
Saudi Arabia began granting the “Special Residency” in 2019 to a select group of foreigners who meet a number of different requirements, including paying a one time fee of 800 thousand Saudi riyals (213 thousand US dollars).
This visa allows its holders to live, work, and invest freely in Saudi Arabia without the need for a local “sponsor”, which is normally required for foreigners to live and work in the Kingdom.
One holder of the special residency permit told AFP that he went to the liquor store and saw someone with a similar visa buying alcohol before he purchased his own bottles.
A Western diplomat confirmed that acquaintances of hers who hold the special residency were able to buy alcohol in recent days.
She added, “The news flooded the WhatsApp groups of foreign residents.”
She said the “liquor store was crowded” on Saturday and that she saw “people leaving with 30 bottles”.
To Saudi Arabia leader,
Allah forbid you to open an Alcohol sales points in Mecca. It is Haram and against Islamic moral values. You know this very well. If you go against this you will regret the consequences that will fall on to you. Dont sell your soul to the devil syaitan. Syaitan will drag you to HELL together with him and be burnt permanently. Are you not afraid of Allah punishment in the hereafter where nobody can help you but your own AMAL. REPENT NOW and stop this sinful act. ALLAH is watching you.