Does Saudi Arabia allow the sale of alcohol in duty-free markets at customs ports?

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - On Friday, the Saudi Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority responded to questions about whether the sale of alcoholic beverages would be allowed in duty-free markets at customs ports in the Kingdom, stressing that “their sale is not permitted.” The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority said, via its Twitter account, in response to questions, that “alcohol is one of the materials that is not permitted to be sold in free markets, in accordance with the rules and requirements for establishing free markets.”

The questions came after the Authority announced, in a statement, on Friday, specifying the rules and conditions for establishing duty-free shops in air, sea and land customs ports in the Kingdom, after the Council of Ministers’ decision to approve the establishment of duty-free shops in arrival halls after they were limited to departure halls. The authority indicated that duty-free shops are currently in place in the departure halls of a number of air ports, namely: King Abdulaziz Airport, King Khalid Airport, King Fahd Airport, and Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz Airport in Medina, adding that it seeks to expand as needed at air, sea and land ports, in coordination with the regulatory authorities at customs ports.

The authority explained that the work of duty-free shops was previously limited to departure lounges at international airports, but after the new decision, they will be available in a number of arrival and departure lounges at land, sea and air ports as needed.