Saudi Arabia to open first alcohol store for non-Muslim diplomats

NOB| Agencies Riyadh                                              

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Saudi Arabia is set to open its first alcohol store in Riyadh, exclusively serving non-Muslim diplomats.

The store will require customers to register via a mobile app, obtain a clearance code from the foreign ministry, and respect monthly quotas with their purchases.

This move is part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plan to build a post-oil economy.

The store is located in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, a neighbourhood where embassies and diplomats reside. It is unclear if other non-Muslim expatriates will have access to the store.

Saudi Arabia has strict laws against drinking alcohol because it is forbidden in Islam.

Punishments can include hundreds of lashes, deportation, fines, or imprisonment. Alcohol has been available only through diplomatic mail or on the black market.

The Saudi government has not responded to a request for comment. Some media reports suggest that the government is imposing new restrictions on alcohol imports within diplomatic consignments, which may boost demand for the new store.

Saudi Arabia has relaxed strict social codes, such as segregating men and women in public places and requiring women to wear all-covering black robes.

Vision 2030 also includes developing local industries and logistics hubs and aiming to add hundreds of thousands of jobs for Saudi nationals.