Grocery Stores Banned From Selling Tobacco, Meat, Fruit & Vegetables

The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing has officially banned grocery stores in Saudi Arabia from selling tobacco, fresh meat, fruits, and vegetables, as part of its efforts to streamline retail classifications and ensure clear separation of food retail activities.

The new regulation will reshape how groceries operate across the Kingdom, requiring them to focus solely on dry, packaged goods and other non-perishable items. Sales of the restricted items will now be limited to specialised stores like butcher shops, produce markets, and tobacco retailers.