Is it illegal to drink alcohol in Saudi Arabia?
Strictly prohibited with severe criminal penalties for all residents and visitors.
Consuming, possessing, or selling alcohol is strictly illegal in Saudi Arabia based on a zero-tolerance interpretation of Sharia law. While a single diplomatic shop exists in Riyadh for non-Muslim diplomats, the general public faces arrest for any level of intoxication. Entering the country with alcohol in your system is also a deportable offense. Law enforcement rarely shows leniency to foreign nationals regarding alcohol-related crimes.
RELEVANT LAWS
- Royal Decree No. M/37The Anti-Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Law
- Article 38 of the Basic Law of GovernanceApplication of Sharia Penalties
- Saudi Customs LawProhibition on the importation of prohibited substances
POTENTIAL PENALTIES
- Lengthy prison sentences ranging from weeks to several years
- Hefty financial fines often exceeding thousands of dollars
- Immediate deportation and a permanent ban on re-entering the country
- Public flogging, though recently largely replaced by prison time
JURISDICTION
While laws are federal, enforcement can be slightly stricter in holy cities like Mecca and Medina compared to expatriate compounds.
In 2024, Saudi Arabia opened its first legal liquor store in decades, but it is strictly restricted to non-Muslim diplomats who must apply for a quota via a mobile app.
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