It’s official: Saudi Arabia will soon be authorizing the sale of alcoholic beverages across the Kingdom. A little over a year since the first liquor store opened in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter—sales were restricted to a select group of non-Muslim expats and subject to a multitude of regulations and clearance protocols— local authorities have revealed plans to hand out drink licenses to 600 different tourist-centered destinations by 2026.
Based on the information shared so far, only beverages with an alcohol content of up to 20% will be permitted on store shelves, meaning that stronger spirits and liquors will remain prohibited for retail sale until further notice or until regulations are revised at a later stage. What’s more, all drinks must be consumed on-site at licensed venues, with no takeaway options allowed, and public advertising of alcohol will remain strictly banned, even in the run-up to major international events such as Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup in 2034.
“Sales will only happen under controlled environments, with licensed service staff and clear operational rules in place to make sure alcohol is handled responsibly and respectfully,” government officials explained in a statement.
According to officials, this policy shift was designed to “welcome the world without losing cultural identity— positioning Saudi Arabia as a progressive, yet respectful player on the global tourism map.” Targeting primarily tourists and expatriates, the move is part of a broader effort to diversify the Kingdom’s economy through tourism, offering limited access to alcohol in a way where cultural and religious values are still respected and carefully preserved within a tightly regulated framework.
Since 1952, Saudi Arabia has enforced a total nationwide ban on the sale, import, and consumption of alcohol. Violations have carried severe legal consequences, including fines, imprisonment, and deportation for foreigners. However, this recent shift marks the most significant softening of that stance in nearly 70 years, signaling a cautiously measured effort to modernize the Kingdom’s image while maintaining its foundational principles.
Only time will tell how well this shift will be received by both by locals wary of change and by tourists expecting greater freedoms and whether or not the new piece of legislation will or will not be extended beyond designated zones or remain a tightly contained exception. Either way, from our side, we’re raising a glass to progress, and hoping to do it on Saudi soil sooner rather than later!
The post Saudi Arabia to Authorize Alcohol at Tourist Venues by 2026 appeared first on MILLE WORLD.
