Saudi Arabia Cider Market Overview, 2031

The Saudi Arabia cider market is poised at a unique crossroads, shaped by decades long alcohol prohibition, emerging regulatory reforms, and the country’s ambitious Vision 2030 economic strategy. For most of its modern history, Saudi Arabia has banned the production, sale, and consumption of alcohol including cider on religious and legal grounds under Sharia law, with strict penalties including fines, imprisonment, deportation, and legal enforcement mechanisms that have kept the market essentially non existent for ordinary residents and visitors alike. Historically, alcohol was illegal across the Kingdom following a ban implemented in 1952, and only a handful of diplomatic exemptions allowed limited access through embassy channels and highly controlled diplomatic imports. Significant regulatory shifts over the last two years signal a controlled opening of the market in tightly regulated contexts. As part of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia announced plans to permit the sale and consumption of select alcoholic beverages specifically beer, wine, and cider in designated licensed venues beginning as early as 2026. These controlled environments will include five star hotels, luxury resorts, high end tourist developments such as Neom, Sindalah Island, and the Red Sea Project, diplomatic quarters, and expatriate residential compounds. Alcohol with more than 20 % alcohol content will remain banned, and consumption in public spaces, private homes, retail shops, and fan zones will continue to be prohibited. This regulatory shift marks one of the most consequential social policy changes in decades, designed to boost tourism, expand hospitality offerings, and attract international events such as Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup. While strict cultural and religious norms persist and enforcement remains robust the move to license cider in controlled venues reflects Saudi Arabia’s balancing act between economic modernization and traditional values.

According to the research report, "Saudi Arabia Cider Market Overview, 2031," published by Bonafide Research, the Saudi Arabia Cider market is anticipated to add to more than 30 Million by 2026–31.The Saudi Arabia cider market stands on the brink of transformation, evolving from a category that was effectively nonexistent due to decades long prohibition into a nascent niche opportunity built around regulated, tourism driven reforms. Historically, Saudi Arabia enforced one of the world’s strictest bans on alcoholic beverages, including cider, dating back to 1952 when the government outlawed the sale and consumption of alcohol under Sharia law a prohibition that applied to both citizens and foreign residents alike and persisted over 70 years. Under this framework, traditional cider markets could not legally operate, and demand for alcoholic beverages was met through black market channels or via diplomatic exceptions. Notably, in 2024 Saudi Arabia opened its first liquor store in the diplomatic quarter of Riyadh, allowing non Muslim diplomats to purchase limited quantities of alcoholic products under highly controlled conditions, marking an unprecedented shift in the country’s regulatory environment. Companies like Diageo, AB InBev, and regional distributors with strong GCC presence may explore joint ventures or distribution agreements with Saudi hotel groups and tourism operators to build cider portfolios ahead of broader rollout. Moreover, training and certification programs for licensed venue staff, plus compliance technology for age verification and secure service, are emerging as ancillary industry developments, ensuring that controlled alcohol service aligns with cultural norms and legal obligations.

The cider market in Saudi Arabia is unlike most global markets because alcoholic beverages have historically been banned. Up until recently, the consumption, production, and sale of alcohol including cider in its traditional fermented form were strictly prohibited under Saudi law, with penalties for consumption and distribution enforced rigorously. This ban meant that where cider did exist, it was either through rare diplomatic exemptions or strictly controlled access in limited contexts for non Muslim residents or diplomats. In 2025, the first alcohol shop in more than 70 years opened in Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, serving non Muslim foreign diplomats under special licensing, and additional stores in Dhahran and Jeddah are planned for select expatriate communities, hinting at cautious liberalization. Within the demands for fermented beverages in Saudi Arabia and the broader GCC, cider is reported alongside traditional fermented drinks, perry, and mead. A recent regional market overview shows Saudi Arabia commanding approximately 98 % of GCC cider, perry, and mead consumption of the total volume due not to alcohol availability but to its significant production capacity in the larger fermented beverage category. In typical global segmentation, hard cider, dry cider, sweet cider, and soft cider are key categories; however, in the Saudi context, soft/non alcoholic cider variants are currently more accessible through regular retail because non alcoholic cider products face no ban and are sold as fruit based beverages or malt alternatives.

Packaging formats for cider in Saudi Arabia are largely shaped by regulatory dynamics and the type of cider products legally circulating. Since the mainstream sale of alcoholic cider has been prohibited for decades, what the market sees most consistently and increasingly are non alcoholic cider style beverages or imported specialty items that fall within allowed product categories. In the broader Middle East and Africa region, glass bottles remain dominant for cider packaging, accounting for a major share of packaging formats due to preservation qualities and premium appeal, while cans are rapidly growing due to convenience and portability. For many non alcoholic cider alternatives and malt based fruit drinks in Saudi retail environments, bottles have traditionally held the lead. Glass bottles are perceived as premium and are commonly found in supermarkets and hypermarkets for beverages where image and taste preservation matter, especially under high ambient temperatures seen across Saudi cities. Glass bottles also cater to occasions of gifting and celebratory consumption, though not tied to alcohol use in the Saudi context. Cans are also favored for non alcoholic cider substitutes and malt drinks, and their double advantage of sustainability and convenience is catalyzing adoption among retail buyers. If controlled alcohol availability for cider is eventually rolled out in licensed hospitality zones such as luxury hotels, tourist districts, and diplomatic locales where regulations allow alcoholic beverages canned cider may become the leading packaging for consumer convenience, particularly in social and casual settings.

Flavor preferences in the Saudi Arabia cider market to the extent they can be discussed given regulatory constraints are shaped by broader consumer exposure to global trends and the types of cider style products available legally as non alcoholic alternatives. Globally, traditional apple based cider dominates the cider landscape, with apple variants accounting for a significant share of consumption. Within Saudi Arabia, where alcoholic beverages have been restricted, consumers have become familiar with apple based refreshing beverages through non alcoholic fruit drinks, malt beverages, and specialty imported cider substitutes. In retail environments, apple flavor resonates strongly because it offers a familiar palate that pairs well with local food preferences and climate conditions. For any legal cider introductions in licensed hospitality venues such as five star hotels or tourist zones earmarked under Vision 2030 reforms apple based cider would almost certainly lead initial offerings due to broad recognition and its foundational position in global cider portfolios. Despite this, flavored cider variants such as pear, berry, citrus, or tropical blends are gaining ground in global markets and might find adoption among expatriate populations in Saudi Arabia once controlled alcohol sales expand. Globally, flavored ciders are projected to grow alongside classic apple cider as producers explore diversified sensory experiences to attract younger consumers. Although no specific data sets exist yet for Saudi consumer preferences in alcoholic cider flavors, the global trend suggests that flavored ciders would appeal strongly in on trade and tourism focused consumption scenarios once regulatory pathways open.



In Saudi Arabia’s unique context, discussing cider by source must take into account that the mainstream legal sale of alcoholic cider is currently extremely limited, and most legally accessible cider like products are non alcoholic or governed by special licensing exceptions. Globally, conventional cider dominates the market, driven by broader production scale, stable supply chains, and consistent taste profiles, while organic cider made from organically grown apples without synthetic inputs remains a niche but growing category as consumers become more health and sustainably minded. In Saudi Arabia’s beverage space, conventional cider alternatives are the norm in retail channels, and these products are treated like other fruit beverages or malt drinks rather than alcoholic beverages. Conventional sourcing ensures product consistency and wide availability, using standard apple juice or fruit blends that appeal to broad taste preferences. These beverages are widely found in supermarkets and convenience stores, aligning with the country’s strict regulatory environment that prohibits alcoholic offerings outside licensed contexts. Organic cider alternatives as in fully certified organic fermented products have limited presence in Saudi retail because such products are usually associated with organic agriculture standards that appeal to niche health segments. Although global demand for organic cider is rising due to clean label and sustainability trends, it constitutes a relatively small share of overall cider consumption.

Distribution of cider in Saudi Arabia differs from global norms because the country’s historical ban on alcohol has shaped how beverages, including cider, are accessed and consumed. Until recently, opportunities for accessing cider that contains alcohol were extremely limited; sale and consumption have been largely prohibited for the general population since the 1950s. However, in 2024 Saudi Arabia took a historic step by opening its first alcohol store in Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter catering to non Muslim diplomats, with plans to launch additional outlets in Dhahran and Jeddah for expatriates. These moves reflect cautious liberalization and emerging distribution channels albeit within tight regulatory constraints. Under global cider market frameworks, distribution channels typically include off trade. In Saudi Arabia today, off trade distribution for alcoholic cider remains virtually nonexistent for the general public, as alcohol cannot be sold in standard supermarkets or convenience stores. Instead, any distribution occurs through special licensed channels that serve diplomats, select expatriates, and potentially, by 2026, licensed hospitality venues such as luxury hotels, resorts, and tourist destinations sanctioned under Vision 2030 reforms. Non alcoholic cider style beverages, fruit drinks, and malt alternatives which carry similarities to cider flavor profiles do circulate through conventional off trade retail channels such as supermarkets and hypermarkets, aligning with legal beverage categories. These product lines benefit from standard retail distribution and enjoy shelf visibility because they fall outside alcohol regulations.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2020
• Base year: 2025
• Estimated year: 2026
• Forecast year: 2031

Aspects covered in this report
• Cider Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Product Type
• Hard Cider
• Dry Cider
• Sweet Cider
• Soft Cider
• Others

By Packaging Type
• Bottles
• Cans

By Flavour
• Apple Base
• Flavored Ciders

By Source
• Conventional
• Organic

By Distribution Channel
• Off-trade
• On-trade