Saudi Arabia To Open New Liquor Outlets For Non-Muslim Residents In Jeddah And Dammam

If you’ve been following Saudi Arabia’s transformation over the past few years, you know one thing for sure: the kingdom is moving fast in terms of adapting the global standards. And now, another chapter is unfolding. Saudi Arabia has started building new liquor outlets in Jeddah and Dammam, designed specifically for certain non-Muslim residents.

Saudi Arabia Quietly Expands Liquor Access For Non-Muslim Residents

This displays Saudi Arabia’s gradual social overhaul. According to a Bloomberg report, the first step was the quiet opening of a liquor store in Riyadh last year. Initially, only foreign diplomats could shop there. Later, as Bloomberg noted through Semafor, the access widened to include non-Muslim holders of Premium Residency permits. Now, construction work is reportedly underway in Jeddah’s Red Sea district and Dammam on the eastern coast. It’s a measured expansion and just another move in a strategy that has been unfolding since Vision 2030 came into play.

Why This Matters

Saudi Arabia has been very clear about its goal to attract global talent. Opening access to booze for a limited group may not sound revolutionary on its own, but it signals something important: the kingdom wants to become a more comfortable home for international professionals who contribute to its growing industries.

In many countries, access to spirits isn’t a big deal. In Saudi Arabia, it represents a clear shift in social policy. 

A Kingdom Redefining Normal

Over the past decade, the pace of reform has been steady. Women now drive. Entertainment events, from concerts to Comic-Con, are part of everyday life. Public spaces that once felt strictly separated by gender now accommodate mixed groups. The changes don’t erase the kingdom’s traditions but simply show how it’s reshaping itself to fit a new future.

Bloomberg pointed out that religious authorities have gradually been playing a smaller public role.

Also Read: Saudi Arabia Unveils A 3.2km Twin Sea Bridge Connecting Safwa And Ras Tanura

Looking Ahead

Officials haven’t commented publicly on the new stores yet, and it’s unlikely they will until the outlets are close to launch. But Saudi Arabia is opening doors, one controlled policy at a time. Now locals and expatriates can imagine long-term life.

Whether you see this as a bold shift or a practical one, it reflects a kingdom rewriting its story with a clear eye on the future.

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