Will Saudi Arabia lift its 73-year-old ban on alcohol?

Earlier, several Western publications reported that Saudi Arabia had decided to partially lift the country's 73-year-old alcohol ban starting in 2026. Local publications, however, reported that the decision would only apply to selected areas intended for foreign tourists.

It was added that alcohol can only be sold in about 600 specially authorized locations - five-star hotels, high-end resorts, diplomatic zones and tourism centers, in particular the Neom project and Sindala Island.

But unexpectedly, the Saudi Arabian government has categorically denied reports that it will lift the 73-year ban on alcohol.

The government's denial may have been due to the fact that this news has sparked serious debate and serious objections from Muslims.

For your information, alcohol has been strictly prohibited in Saudi Arabia since 1952. This law applied not only to citizens but also to foreigners, and those who violated it faced imprisonment and deportation.

Just last year, the first liquor store specifically for diplomats opened in the capital, Riyadh.