Saudi Arabia Quietly Eases 73-Year Alcohol Ban, Allowing Select Non-Muslim Premium Visa Holders Access to Diplomats’ Liquor Store

In a subtle yet highly significant loosening of one of the kingdom’s strictest social laws, Saudi Arabia has quietly expanded access to alcohol sales beyond the diplomatic corps, according to reports from diplomats and foreign residents.

The privilege of legally purchasing alcohol from the country’s sole licensed outlet in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter has reportedly been extended to a select group of non-Muslim foreigners holding the Premium Residency visa. This status is reserved for major investors, high-income expatriates, and skilled professionals who have fulfilled stringent criteria, including a substantial financial commitment.

Foreign residents confirmed to news agencies that the policy had changed informally, allowing them to access the shop which was previously a strictly guarded facility for diplomats only. One premium visa-holder, speaking anonymously, noted that the change “saved me a lot of money rather than buying from the black market.”

A Calculated Move to Attract Talent

The apparent easing of liquor regulations is interpreted by analysts as the latest component of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 agenda. The plan seeks to attract international business and top-tier foreign talent necessary to diversify Saudi Arabia’s oil-dependent economy and modernize its global image.

The discreet nature of the expansion with no official government announcement underscores the careful balancing act the kingdom is performing between economic liberalization and upholding its religious role as the custodian of Islam’s two holiest sites.

Despite this change for a specialized group, the nationwide prohibition on alcohol consumption, which has been in place for 73 years since 1952, remains fully enforced for Saudi citizens and the vast majority of regular foreign residents and visitors. The government is also reportedly planning to open two new restricted-access alcohol stores in Dhahran (for Aramco staff) and Jeddah (for diplomats) in 2026.