Alcohol regulations in Saudi Arabia

Licensing, import, labelling and tax rules for spirits. Researched October 2026.

Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in October 2026 from the public sources listed at the bottom of this page. Duty rates, fees and rules change often: confirm with the regulator, a customs broker or local counsel before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Status: Partial prohibition
Legal drinking age: 21 (access to diplomatic store only; prohibited for general public)
Legal purchase age: 21 (access to diplomatic store only; prohibited for general public)

Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)

Licences needed: None available (production is prohibited)
Authority: Not applicable
Documents: Not applicable
Fees: Not applicable
Time to obtain: Not applicable

Import licence and registration

Who can import: Only accredited non-Muslim diplomatic missions and designated state channels under diplomatic quota regulations; commercial importers and the general public are completely barred.
Licences or registrations: Diplomatic quota allocation and clearance via the Diplo mobile platform and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
Authority: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA)
Documents: Diplomatic mission authorization, consignment clearance permits, and quota allocation certificates
Fees: not confirmed
Time to obtain: not confirmed

Product and label registration

Required: no
Process: No commercial registration or label approval system exists. Alcoholic beverages are classified as prohibited goods by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and ZATCA.
Authority: Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)
Documents and samples: Not applicable
Fees: Not applicable
Renewal: Not applicable
Time to obtain: Not applicable

Import rules

Commercial and passenger imports of alcohol are strictly banned and treated as contraband subject to fines, confiscation, and imprisonment. Only diplomatic shipments sanctioned under the Vienna Convention and approved through MOFA/ZATCA quota rules are admitted.

Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)

Prohibited import under standard GCC/ZATCA customs tariff (HS 2208); official diplomatic consignments enter duty-exempt under diplomatic privileges.

Excise and taxes

Alcohol is excluded from the commercial Selective Tax (excise) system because standard commercial distribution is illegal. Standard national VAT is 15%, but no commercial alcohol taxation schedule exists.

Retail and distribution

No public retail stores, supermarkets, bars, or hotel lounges are permitted to sell alcohol. Retail is restricted to a single state-regulated store in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, accessible strictly to non-Muslim diplomats and non-Muslim Premium Residency holders via a monthly quota point system (e.g. 240 points/month; 1L spirits = 6 points).

Online sale and delivery

banned

Labelling

Not applicable; no domestic commercial labelling regulations, warning requirements, or fiscal strip stamp schemes exist due to the prohibition of general commerce.

Advertising

Banned; all alcohol advertising, marketing, and commercial sponsorship are strictly illegal under national media and publication laws.

Legal definitions of spirits

None; no standard legal definitions or minimum ABV standards for spirits exist under SFDA or SASO regulations.

Dry or restricted areas

Entire kingdom is dry for the general public, with total religious bans in the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina. The sole authorized consumption and purchase exception is strictly confined to diplomatic enclaves.

Recent changes

In January 2024, Saudi Arabia opened its first licensed liquor store in 72 years in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, initially limited to non-Muslim diplomats via the 'Diplo' mobile app under a monthly quota.
In late 2025, access to the Diplomatic Quarter store was quietly extended to non-Muslim foreign holders of Saudi Premium Residency visas.
Saudi government officials reiterated that general commercial sale and consumption remain strictly banned nationwide, confirming alcohol will not be permitted for general hospitality or at major tournaments like the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Opportunities for exporters

There are no open commercial opportunities for foreign spirits exporters in the Saudi domestic market due to strict statutory prohibition. Potential trade is strictly confined to supplying government-approved procurement channels for diplomatic mission quotas.

Regulators

Sources

Selling into Saudi Arabia or buying from it?

Post a requirement