Overview
- People familiar with the plans say work has begun on alcohol outlets in Jeddah and in the Eastern Province, including a site within an Aramco compound for non-Muslim foreign staff.
- A separate store is planned in Jeddah to serve diplomats, with both locations described by sources as tightly controlled and not open to the general public.
- Two sources cited by Reuters say the new stores are expected to open in 2026, though no timeline has been formally announced.
- Access at the existing Riyadh shop has expanded from diplomats to some non-Muslim holders of Saudi Premium Residency, with customers telling AFP and other outlets they have successfully made purchases.
- Saudi authorities have not confirmed the changes, Aramco declined to comment, and the nationwide ban dating to 1952 continues to apply to the wider population.