The Real Reason Riyadh Air Can’t Serve Alcohol — Saudi Law Began With a Royal Scandal, Not Religion

Alcohol is illegal for the public in Saudi Arabia. Importatation is banned. However, it’s been generally believed they’re on a path towards liberalization and that Riyadh Air will be allowed to serve alcohol in the future.

Indeed, there’s a view that the existing Saudia will be the conservative air carrier, and Riyadh Air will be the premium global airline that’s more western in its sensibilities. We aren’t there yet, but changes in alcohol rules are happening on the ground. And the reason for Saudi Arabia’s ban on alcohol isn’t what most people think.

• It’s been nearly two years since Saudi Arabia opened its first alcohol shop in decades, in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter. It was initially available only to non-Muslim diplomats.

• Access there has expaned to include some skilled non-Muslim foreign residents.

• And there are plans for additional controlled outlets, making available to non-Muslim expats in Dhahram (Aramco) and Jeddah (diplomats).

This starts with diplomats, expands to expats, expands geography – while still keeping it out of general retail and even hospitality (hotels). Alcohol is prohibited in Saudi Arabia officially still, and that applies to Riyadh Air. (Foreign carriers can have alcohol though may not serve in Saudi airspace – they don’t import it into the country.)

Next might be allowing alcohol in airport duty free and international transit and perhaps licenses for hotels and restaurants in designated areas. This would make it both acceptable and operationally easier for a Riyadh-based carrier to offer alcohol service.

So far government messaging has been that this won’t happen, which is what you’d expect until it does. There have been statements like ‘no alcohol at the 2034 World Cup’ but that’s far enough off that statements today about it are virtually meaningless.

But here’s the strange thing. The reason alcohol was banned in Saudi Arabia isn’t even religion.

the story behind what actually led to the alcohol ban in Saudi Arabia is wild https://t.co/VvLKLgGjYg pic.twitter.com/6lTAs0tIHg

— a rare photo of sean connery signed by roger moore (@steamedhamms) December 21, 2025

Cyril Ousman was a British citizen who had been in Arabia since 1929 and worked as an engineer. He became the British vice-consul in Jeddah. On November 16, 1951 he held a party where 19-year old Prince Mishari attended and got drunk. Mishari became inappropriate with a female guest, was thrown out, and returned the next day still drunk and enraged. He opened fire, killing Ousman and wounding his wife.

Alcohol was religiously forbidden for Muslims, but it was available in expat enclaves and private settings. Princes drank in those circles.

Mishari was just one of many alcohol-fueled scandals involving princes and it wasn’t the first killing. The Ousman murder became the breaking point. King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud issued the “teetotalitarian edict” forbidding the importation of intoxicating liquors. Saudi Arabia was wholly dependent on import channels for supply, so this effectively ended legal availability.

It was about the behavior of royal family members, fueled by alcohol, rather than religion that ended the limited ability to imbibe in the country. Honestly, I enjoy a nice drink… often more for the flavor than any buzz. I enjoy wine very much but generally think alcohol has real harms. It’s fine for the majority of people, in moderation, but for a small minority it’s exceptionally damaging. That’s true for many other substances as well.

On the one hand, I think it’s difficult to be a really premium carrier and not offer premium wine and spirits like other airlines do. On the other hand, it does tend to drive towards greater creative focus and investment in non-alcoholic options. I wish more airlines did this, and lounges too (I much enjoy the ‘Flamingo Shuttle’ in Capital One’s Landing at National airport in D.C.).