Saudi Arabia allows alcohol for non-Muslim expats earning Rs 11 lakh a month. Internet says 'poor can’t...'

The latest development arrived at a time when Saudi Arabia had been gradually altering several social rules.

Saudi Arabia appeared to further ease restrictions around the sale of alcohol by permitting certain non-Muslim foreign residents to buy alcoholic beverages, according to reporting by the New York Times. Access remains heavily limited and subject to strict eligibility rules, including a requirement that applicants earn at least 50,000 Saudi riyals per month, which amounts to roughly Rs 11 lakh.

Interviews cited by the New York Times suggested that foreign residents seeking to enter the country’s sole licensed liquor shop in Riyadh were asked to present income proof and a salary certificate. The store had opened last year and had initially served foreign diplomatic staff. It had recently extended access to non-Muslims who held premium residency status, a category intended for highly skilled professionals, investors and entrepreneurs.

Bloomberg also reported that purchases at the Riyadh outlet were controlled through a point-based monthly allowance system and that additional liquor stores were being planned in two other cities. The individuals who shared these details did so anonymously, citing the sensitivity of the subject. There had been no official announcement from the Saudiauthorities, and the government did not respond to requests for comment.

The Saudi Premium Residency scheme, launched in 2019 and sometimes described as the country’s version of a “green card”, allowed eligible foreigners to live and work in the kingdom without a local sponsor. Applicants needed to be at least 21-years-old, medically fit, free of criminal cases and able to demonstrate adequate financial resources for themselves and their dependants.

Reactions across social media were immediate and critical. Many users objected to the apparent income threshold, arguing that the new access rules created a divide between wealthy expatriates and lower-income foreign workers. One user remarked, “Proof of income for a bottle of wine is CRAZY behaviour.” Another wrote, “No alcohol for the poor is hilarious.”

Others expressed stronger frustration about the selective nature of the policy. A commenter said, “Religion means nothing to the Saudis, it is all business for them and it’s always been.” Another user claimed, “The salary requirement is to stop poor foreign workers from being able to drink btw, keeping it for rich tourists.”

JUST IN: 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia to allow foreign residents earning over $13,000 to buy alcohol. pic.twitter.com/Jy5oF6mbvg

— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) December 8, 2025

A separate set of online responses criticised media coverage surrounding the policy, arguing that some outlets had exaggerated or misrepresented the change. One widely shared post stated: “The post by BRICS NEWS is clickbait. Saudi Arabia did NOT legalize alcohol. Not for Muslims. Not for the general public. Not for tourists. This rule applies ONLY to a tiny group of non-Muslim foreign residents inside controlled zones linked to embassies and diplomatic districts. Alcohol remains 100% illegal for Muslims in Saudi Arabia. The Shariah ruling has not changed and will never change."

Another user criticised the policy on political grounds, writing, “This is why Saudi Arabia needs democracy. He’d be voted out for such a discriminatory policy.”

The latest development arrived at a time when Saudi Arabia had been gradually altering several social rules, including lifting the ban on women driving, permitting public entertainment and opening the country more widely to tourism. However, strict prohibitions under religious law, particularly relating to alcohol consumption for Muslims, remained unchanged.