Riyadh: It is untrue to say that Saudi Arabia intends to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages beginning in 2026, as reported by some international media agencies. “These claims lack any official confirmation from relevant authorities and do not reflect existing policies or regulations in Saudi Arabia,” according to knowledgeable Saudi sources.
According to the individuals who spoke to Arab News, Saudi Arabia is still dedicated to providing a distinctive and culturally engaging experience as part of its ambitious plan to grow the tourist industry. International tourists who come to see the Kingdom’s rich history and varied natural environments have embraced this strategy.
The sources underlined that Saudi Arabia has implemented a new structure to prohibit the unauthorised use of diplomatic supplies with regard to alcohol rules for non-Muslim diplomats. These new regulations prohibit the importation of alcohol and several other commodities in diplomatic supplies by non-Muslim embassies. Strict regulatory rules, however, allow for regulated access to such commodities in order to avoid misuse.
The sources also mentioned how Saudi Arabia’s tourist industry had grown significantly. The number of foreign visitors to the nation increased by 8% to 29.7 million in 2024 from 27.4 million in 2023. Furthermore, overseas tourists contributed 168.5 billion SAR to the total amount of 283.8 billion SAR spent on domestic and international tourism, highlighting the industry’s critical significance in bolstering the national economy.
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