Saudi Arabia denies lifting alcohol ban before 2034 World Cup

Official refutes speculations which began with a report on blogs and unverified reports

Last updated: May 26, 2025 | 17:23

2 MIN READ

Saudi Arabia continues to maintain strict laws against alcohol consumption.

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Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has refuted recent media reports suggesting an end to its long-standing ban on alcohol. On Monday, Reuters reported that a Saudi official dismissed claims that the kingdom was preparing to lift the 73-year-old prohibition, citing Saudi media outlets.

The speculation began with a report on a blog and unverified news outlets last week. Some international news outlets subsequently picked it up. These reports suggested that Saudi Arabia was planning to permit the controlled sale of alcohol in anticipation of hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup. However, the source of this information was not identified.

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The report ignited considerable discussion online within Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has embarked on an ambitious journey to transform its tourism sector as part of its Vision 2030 plan for economic diversification. On Monday, KSA unveiled the 50-year tourism roadmap after the Kingdom welcomed nearly 100 million visitors.

The Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb also unveiled Tourise - an industry-defining platform to drive this vision forward. Scheduled to take place from November 11 to 13 in Riyadh, Tourise 2025 will convene leading experts, investors, and innovators from both the public and private sectors.

Under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country is undergoing a series of reforms aimed at diversifying its economy beyond oil and boosting tourism and business.

In a limited move last year, the first alcohol store in Riyadh was opened. Still, it exclusively serves non-Muslim diplomats, according to official reports. Saudi Arabia continues to maintain strict laws against alcohol consumption, with penalties ranging from deportation and fines to imprisonment. In December 2024, Saudi Arabia was formally confirmed as the host nation by FIFA following an uncontested bidding process.

Qatar, another GCC country that hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022, sold beverages in special fan zones outside the stadiums. No alcohol was sold at the stadiums, which hosted the tournament's 64 matches.

Dhanusha GokulanChief Reporter

Dhanusha is a Chief Reporter at Gulf News in Dubai, with her finger firmly on the pulse of UAE, regional, and global aviation. She dives deep into how airlines and airports operate, expand, and embrace the latest tech. Known for her sharp eye for detail, Dhanusha makes complex topics like new aircraft, evolving travel trends, and aviation regulations easy to grasp. Lately, she's especially fascinated by the world of eVTOLs and flying cars. With nearly two decades in journalism, Dhanusha's covered a wide range, from health and education to the pandemic, local transport, and technology. When she's not tracking what's happening in the skies, she enjoys exploring social media trends, tech innovations, and anything that sparks reader curiosity. Outside of work, you'll find her immersed in electronic dance music, pop culture, movies, and video games.