November 23, 2025
Web desk
Saudi Arabia has discreetly broadened its alcohol‐sales policy, allowing non-Muslim holders of its Premium Residency visa to buy liquor from a store in Riyadh that was previously limited to foreign diplomats.
According to people familiar with the situation, this change came without any official announcement buyers say they only learned of it by word of mouth.
The move is seen as part of Riyadh’s broader strategy to normalize restricted alcohol access while pursuing its Vision 2030 goal of boosting tourism and diversifying the economy.
Saudi Arabia introduced the Premium Residency program in 2019 to attract high-income expatriates; eligibility now includes individuals earning over 80,000 riyals per month or working in certain professions.
