Saudi Arabia’s only alcohol store runs short of booze amid Iran war
Saudi Arabia’s only official liquor shop has reported alcohol shortages, as the conflict in West Asia causes supply chain issues and stalls shipments.
The store, based in Riyadh’s diplomatic district, has no sign and no name. It’s the only licensed shop permitted in Saudi Arabia, where the 1952 ban on selling alcohol for consumption is otherwise strictly enforced.
It launched in 2024 to serve non-Muslim diplomats, and last year expanded to count wealthy non-Muslim foreign residents amidst its clientele.
However, speaking to Reuters, visitors to the shop described barren shelves, with the shop short of supplies spanning wine, tequila and beer.
Queues to beat the no-booze blues
One Western diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, 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.
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The shortages have sparked long queues outside the store, with some foreigners even leaving midway through their workday in hopes of scoring some booze, the visitors told Reuters. Sometimes, they reported, tensions ran high, causing conflict between those waiting in line.
They said the shop’s employees told them shipments from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates had been delayed.
Alcohol policy shift
Alcohol has been banned in Saudi Arabia for 73 years, ever since King Ibn Saud prohibited it. Historically, the policy has been rooted in Islamic law and accepted as the conservative social norm.
Today, the alcohol shop in Riyadh allegedly operates under strict controls and security, including eligibility checks and restrictions on photography and phones in the premises.
Expanding the shop to wealthy non-Muslim residents was a move made by the country’s current leader – Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. BBC reports identified it as part of broader policy reform which aims to boost economic diversification, social liberalisation and efforts to attract foreign talent.
Some speculated that the selective alcohol ban fits into Saudi Arabia’s economic goals known as Vision 2030 which highlighted how its central strategy for diversifying its oil-dependent economy would be by boosting tourism, international business and investment while maintaining social order.
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