Does Saudi Arabia Allow the Sale of Alcohol in Duty-Free Shops at Customs Points?

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - The Saudi Authority for Zakat, Tax and Customs responded on Friday to questions about whether the sale of alcoholic beverages would be allowed in duty-free shops at customs outlets in the Kingdom, confirming that "it is not allowed to sell them." The Authority for Zakat, Tax and Customs stated via its Twitter account, in response to inquiries, that "alcohol is considered one of the substances that are not permitted for sale in duty-free shops, in accordance with the rules and conditions for establishing duty-free markets."

Questions arose following the authority's announcement, in a statement on Friday, about the establishment of rules and conditions for creating duty-free markets at air, sea, and land customs ports in the Kingdom, after the Cabinet's decision to approve the establishment of duty-free markets in arrival halls, which were previously limited to departure halls. The authority indicated that duty-free markets are currently available in the departure halls of several air ports, namely: King Abdulaziz Airport, King Khalid Airport, King Fahd Airport, and Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Airport in Medina, adding that it seeks to expand as needed in air, sea, and land ports, in coordination with the legislative authorities at the customs ports.

The authority clarified that the operation of duty-free shops was previously limited to departure halls at international airports, but following the new decision, they will be available in a number of arrival and departure halls at land, sea, and air outlets as needed.