Saudi Arabia Eases Alcohol Rules For Non-Muslim Residents Earning Over SAR 50,000

Saudi Arabia just pressed its alcohol rules a little further, and this one is a bit different. Saudi Arabia has quietly allowed non-Muslim foreign residents earning 50,000 SAR or more per month to buy alcohol from the only licensed shop in Riyadh. 

Saudi Arabia’s Alcohol Rules Updates For Residents With Higher Salaries

Basically, if you’re a non-Muslim expat and your monthly pay cheque crosses the SAR 50k mark, you can show your salary certificate at the entrance and walk into the store. That’s the same outlet that opened last year for foreign diplomats. After that, it extended access to non-Muslims with premium residency. Now, we’re looking at a broader circle.

A Controlled System, Not A Free-For-All

This isn’t anything close to an open market. Customers still buy under a tight, point-based monthly allowance. And insiders say two more liquor stores are already in the works in other cities. Again, nothing official, but the groundwork has definitely begun, as Bloomberg mentioned. 

Why It Matters For Riyadh’s Bigger Picture

Saudi Arabia is becoming a competitive business hub, which means catering to foreign talent with expectations shaped by life in global cities. For years, expats joked about “dry” challenges. But now, rule by rule, the Kingdom is loosening its social barriers.

Think about the last few years. Women started driving. Public concerts rolled in. Cafés filled up with mixed groups without anyone batting an eye. Tourism opened its doors. None of this happened overnight, and none of it happened without pushback either. Shifting the social fabric in a country with a heavy religious identity is a tough act, and every step matters.

Also Read: Riyadh Air Unveils The Hafawa Lounge, Its First Premium Airport Experience!

This latest change is slow and fits right. But it signals where Riyadh wants to go. Whether more rules are relaxed next year or five years from now, that’s anyone’s guess. But the direction? It’s already set for the Kingdom. 

Cover Image Courtesy: CanvaPro/Peopleimages.com – YuriArcurs