Saudi Arabia is getting ready to launch its first alcohol store in the country's capital, Riyadh, catering only to non-Muslim diplomats, according to a document and a source familiar with the plans. As per the paper reviewed by Reuters, customers will need to respect monthly quotas with their purchases, register via a mobile app, and obtain a clearance code from the foreign ministry. Since alcohol consumption is prohibited in Islam, the move marks a significant step in the kingdom's efforts, spearheaded by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to open the staunchly conservative Muslim nation for travel and business. It is also a component of larger strategies to develop a post-oil economy known as Vision 2030.
It was unclear whether the business will be accessible to other expats who are not Muslims. Saudi Arabia is home to millions of foreigners, the most of them being Muslim laborers from Egypt and Asia. The store is anticipated to open in the upcoming weeks, according to a source with knowledge of the plans. Alcohol consumption is strictly prohibited in Saudi Arabia and is punishable by hundreds of flogging, deportation, fines, or jail time. Expatriates are also subject to expulsion. Whipping has mostly been replaced by jail sentences as part of the reforms.
Only on the illicit market or by diplomatic mail has alcohol been accessible. On Wednesday, the government verified rumors in state-run media that it was putting more limitations on the import of alcohol inside diplomatic packages. According to its Center of International Communication (CIC), the new rules were put in place to combat the illegal trade in alcohol-related items and products that are obtained by diplomatic posts. The CIC informed Reuters in a statement that "this new process will continue to grant and ensure that all diplomats of non-Muslim embassies have access to these products in specified quotas."
The statement claimed that the new structure respected international diplomatic agreements, although it made no mention of the proposed booze store. After being mostly locked off for many years, Saudi Arabia has recently loosened its rigid social norms, which included forcing women to wear abayas, or black robes that cover the entire body, and separating men and women in public areas.
