Saudi Arabia expands alcohol access for select foreign residents

Saudi Arabia has widened access to alcohol by permitting a specific group of foreign non-Muslim residents to purchase it from a designated outlet, according to media reports.

The policy change allows holders of the Kingdom’s ‘Premium Residency’ visa to buy alcohol from the Diplomatic Quarter store in Riyadh, a facility that was previously limited to foreign diplomats.

The new measure marks a notable shift in the Kingdom’s regulated approach to alcohol availability for expatriate communities.