Saudi Arabia Plans to Open Two More Alcohol Stores

Darwin, 25 November-

Saudi Arabia is preparing to open two additional alcohol stores, according to multiple sources familiar with the government’s plans, AFP reported. One of the new outlets will serve foreign and non-Muslim employees of Aramco, the kingdom’s state-owned oil giant.

The planned stores—one in the eastern province of Dhahran and another in the city of Jeddah for diplomats—are being viewed as another milestone in the implementation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reform agenda.

Last year, Saudi Arabia opened its first alcohol store in 73 years, located in the diplomatic quarter of Riyadh and accessible only to non-Muslim diplomats.

One of three sources speaking to Reuters said the Dhahran store would be designated specifically for Aramco’s non-Muslim staff. Saudi authorities have already informed them of the plan, the source added.

The other two sources noted that work is underway to open a third store in Jeddah for non-Muslim diplomats. The city hosts a significant number of consulates.

Both new stores are expected to open in 2026, though Saudi authorities have not announced an exact timeline.

The Saudi government’s media office has not commented on the reported plans, and Aramco declined to respond.

After the opening of the Riyadh store—known locally as the “booze bunker”—no official announcement was made about changes to national regulations. Two sources said that the customer list at the Riyadh outlet was recently expanded to include non-Muslim holders of Saudi Arabia’s premium residency, which is granted to entrepreneurs, major investors, and highly skilled professionals.

Before the Riyadh outlet opened, alcohol in Saudi Arabia was available only through diplomatic mail, the black market, or home-brewed sources. Except for Kuwait, all other Gulf states allow alcohol access to some extent.

Source: AFP