How much Alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) can I bring into Saudi Arabia?
Prohibited
You cannot bring Alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) into Saudi Arabia.
What you need to know
- No stated quantity
- Channels: Carried with the traveler
On the plane
Airline differences
| Airline | Difference from the baseline |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) | Stricter than the standard rule |
Important
This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.
Official sources
- Guidelines for Travelers Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority
Questions about Alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) in Saudi Arabia
- How many alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) can I bring into Saudi Arabia?
- alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) may not be brought into Saudi Arabia at all. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
- Do I have to declare alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) at Saudi Arabia customs?
- There is nothing to declare — alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) cannot be brought in at all. Declaring it does not make it admissible; it hands it over.
- What happens if I do not declare alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) in Saudi Arabia?
- Under Common Customs Law of the GCC States, Article 145, if it is treated as smuggling: an administrative fine is imposed; it is prosecuted as a criminal offence.
- Can I post or ship alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) to Saudi Arabia instead of carrying it?
- Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead.
- Can I take alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) out of Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia publishes no separate rule for taking alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
- Does the Saudi Arabia limit for alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) apply per person or per family?
- Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.
- Where does this rule come from?
- Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) states it in Guidelines for Travelers. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “Alcohol and drugs of all kinds.”
- How does Saudi Arabia compare with other countries on alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over)?
- Of the 21 countries covered here, 1 prohibit alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over), 11 limit it and 9 let it through. Saudi Arabia is among the ones that set a limit.
Source: Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) — Guidelines for Travelers · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) — Guidelines for Travelers · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) — ข้อควรทราบสำหรับการนำของติดตัวเข้าทางอากาศยานสำหรับผู้โดยสาร · verified 2026-09-20
Source: Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) — ข้อควรทราบสำหรับการนำของติดตัวเข้าทางอากาศยานสำหรับผู้โดยสาร · verified 2026-09-20
Source: Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) — Guidelines for Travelers · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) — Guidelines for Travelers · verified 2026-09-19