Saudi Arabia has discreetly broadened the customer base for its only legal alcohol outlet, permitting wealthy non-Muslim foreign residents to make purchases in a significant, yet unannounced, shift in policy.
A Discreet Expansion in the Diplomatic Quarter
While no official statement has been made, evidence of the change is clear at the unmarked store in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, where long queues of cars and people have been forming. The store, which opened in January 2024 exclusively for non-Muslim diplomats, can now serve foreigners holding a Premium Residency permit.
This residency is designed to attract global talent and investment, granted to individuals with specialised skills, entrepreneurs, and investors. It offers unique benefits like the right to own property and start a business without a Saudi sponsor, but requires a high income or substantial investment to obtain.
Strict Controls and High Prices
The store's operation reflects the kingdom's cautious approach. Security is exceptionally tight, with every visitor undergoing eligibility checks and frisking before entry. Phones and cameras are prohibited inside, and staff even inspect eyewear for recording devices.
Customers who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity reported sharply elevated prices. While diplomats are exempt from taxes on their purchases, Premium Residency holders are not. The store was described as relatively well-stocked, though some noted a limited selection of beer and wine.
A Calculated Step in Broader Liberalisation
This move is the latest in a series of social reforms spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and King Salman, aimed at diversifying the oil-dependent economy, boosting tourism, and attracting international business. The kingdom, which adheres to Islamic Sharia law, has in recent years opened cinemas, allowed women to drive, and hosted major music festivals.
However, alcohol remains strictly banned for the general Saudi public and other residents. The store is widely viewed as a controlled experiment in the sale of alcohol, a substance banned since the early 1950s. The ban was instituted by founding monarch King Abdulaziz after a 1951 incident where his intoxicated son, Prince Mishari, killed a British diplomat.
For most Saudis and residents, obtaining alcohol involves travelling to neighbouring Bahrain or the more expensive option of Dubai. Others risk consuming unsafe, smuggled, or bootleg alcohol. Meanwhile, alcohol-free beverages have grown in popularity, especially at major events where young Saudis and visitors often queue for non-alcoholic beers to partake in the social atmosphere.
This incremental change underscores the complex path of modernisation in Saudi Arabia, where social liberalisation progresses alongside the continued criminalisation of political dissent.
