According to NDTV, Saudi Arabia is about to launch its first alcohol store in Riyadh, serving only to non-Muslim diplomats, in a major step towards increasing its appeal for business and tourists.
This program, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is part of the larger Vision 2030 plan, which aims to move the country’s economy away from its reliance on oil.
The store is located in the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh, which is a hotspot for embassies and diplomats. According to a document acquired by Reuters, users will need to register through a mobile app, obtain a clearance code from the foreign ministry, and comply with monthly purchase limitations. Access to the store will be “strictly restricted” to non-Muslims in accordance with Islamic precepts that forbid the consumption of alcohol.
Although the paper was vague about whether non-Muslim expats other than diplomats would be able to access it, people with knowledge of the plans expect the store to open in the upcoming weeks.
Saudi Arabia has long had strict regulations against the use of alcohol; the punishments ranged from fines, lashing, and jail to deportation for foreigners.
Recent changes have resulted in a move away from physical punishment and toward jail time. Up until now, the only ways to obtain alcohol were through the illicit market or diplomatic routes.
In an effort to stop the “improper exchange of special goods and alcoholic beverages received by the embassies of non-Muslim countries inside Saudi Arabia,” new rules prohibiting the import of alcohol within diplomatic consignments have been implemented at the same time as the move to open the alcohol store, according to Arab News.The opening of this alcohol store represents another step in the direction of changing Saudi Arabia’s traditional image and promoting a more open and diversified society, as the country continues its trajectory of social and economic reforms, including eliminating gender segregation and allowing women to drive.
