Saudi Arabia has discreetly widened access to its first legal liquor store, allowing wealthy non-Muslim foreign residents to buy alcohol for the first time in more than seven decades. The unmarked shop, located in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, initially opened in January 2024 for non-Muslim diplomats but now also serves expatriates who meet strict financial criteria.
Under the new rules, introduced without public announcement, eligible buyers must hold a Premium Residency permit costing 100,000 riyals a year, or earn at least 50,000 riyals per month. Visitors must present a residence ID card that states their religion and residency status. Those without the permit are also required to show a company-issued salary certificate. Foreign tourists remain barred from entering.
Customers describe a tightly controlled experience. Mobile phones are sealed in tamper-proof bags before entry, and queues can last more than an hour. One European expatriate said the store was well stocked, with prices two to three times higher than Western markets but significantly below those on the black market. A British executive reported paying $124 for a bottle of Johnny Walker Black Label whisky, adding that he did not mind the premium.
Purchases are governed by a points-based monthly quota, which customers say is generous enough to allow dozens of litres of spirits per person. Diplomats receive discounts. There has been no official government statement, and the shop does not appear on online maps; buyers say they learned of it through word of mouth.
Analysts see the caution as deliberate. Sebastian Sons, a senior researcher at German think tank Carpo, said the authorities are willing to move forward slowly on sensitive issues. "They are willing to go two steps forward and one step back, if necessary," he said. Alcohol is prohibited under Islamic law, and religious observance remains strong, but the move is part of wider reforms under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that have included reopening cinemas, allowing women to drive and curbing the religious police.
