In 2026, Saudi Arabia plans to partially lift its 73-year-long ban on alcohol, allowing the sale of beer, wine, and cider at approximately 600 tourist venues, including five-star hotels, resorts, and designated areas such as Neom and the Red Sea zone, reports the Baltimore Chronicle, citing MSN.
This move is part of the broader Vision 2030 strategy aimed at modernizing the kingdom’s economy and attracting foreign tourists ahead of Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Alcohol will only be available at licensed establishments staffed with trained personnel. The sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages will remain prohibited in public areas, retail stores, residential buildings, and fan zones. Moreover, strong spirits with an alcohol content exceeding 20% will continue to be banned.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions. While some officials deny plans to ease the alcohol restrictions, other sources report that the government is preparing for a partial rollback of the ban. Back in 2024, the country opened its first alcohol store in decades in Riyadh, accessible only to non-Muslim diplomats.
This policy change marks a significant shift in Saudi Arabia’s social landscape as it seeks to balance tradition with efforts to become a major global tourism destination.
Earlier we wrote that Saudi Arabia and Qatar to help settle Syria’s debt to the World Bank.