Saudi Arabia Plans to Open Two More Alcohol Stores by 2026

Riyadh:Saudi Arabia is set to open two additional alcohol stores by 2026, according to a report published by Reuters. The move marks another significant step in the Kingdom’s ongoing social and economic reforms.

Sources told Reuters that one of the new outlets will be established in Dhahran, located in the Eastern Province, and will serve non-Muslim foreign employees of Aramco. The store will be situated inside a secured Aramco-owned compound, where only non-Muslim staff members will be permitted to purchase alcohol.

The second store is expected to open in Jeddah and will cater exclusively to non-Muslim diplomats. While both stores are planned for 2026, no official opening dates have been announced yet.

Saudi Arabia’s government media office and Aramco declined to comment on the development.

This follows last year’s opening of the first alcohol shop in Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter—the first in 73 years. Access to that store was recently expanded to include non-Muslim holders of Saudi Premium Residency.

Until these changes, alcohol in Saudi Arabia was obtainable only through diplomatic channels, the black market, or homemade brews. Similar to other Gulf states—except Kuwait—Saudi Arabia has gradually begun easing restrictions as part of its broader reform agenda under Vision 2030.

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