Saudi Arabia’s only official alcohol shop has run short of supplies, with shortages affecting products ranging from beer and wine to tequila.
The store, located in Riyadh’s diplomatic district, operates discreetly without a name or sign. It opened in 2024 to serve non-Muslim diplomats and was later expanded to include wealthy non-Muslim foreign residents.
While Saudi Arabia’s blanket ban on alcohol, introduced in 1952, officially remains in place, authorities allowed this single licensed outlet as part of efforts to attract expatriates.
However, visitors say the store’s shelves are now mostly empty, with only expensive or lesser-known brands available. A Western diplomat, speaking anonymously, said there was no white wine and “only a few bottles of super expensive red.”
“They also got a shipment of random beer,” the diplomat added.
The shortages have led to long queues outside the store, with some foreign residents reportedly leaving work during the day to try their luck. Visitors also noted that tensions have risen, occasionally resulting in altercations.
According to those who visited, store staff said shipments from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), both of which have more relaxed alcohol policies, have been delayed due to disruptions caused by the ongoing Iran war.
Despite being tightly controlled and low-profile, the Riyadh outlet represents a key step in reforms led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to gradually open up the kingdom.
Before the store’s launch, access to alcohol in Saudi Arabia was limited to home brewing, diplomatic channels, or the black market, where both quality and prices varied significantly.
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