Although it is reserved for non-Muslim diplomats, the Riyadh store opens as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aims to transform the kingdom into a destination for tourism and business.
For the first time in more than 70 years, a store selling alcohol has opened its doors in Saudi Arabia, a diplomat revealed on Wednesday January 24. This initiative marks a new step towards social liberalization in the kingdom which is home to Islam’s most sacred sites.
Although it caters exclusively to non-Muslim diplomats, the store, located in the diplomatic district of the capital, Riyadh, aligns with the ambitious plans of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to transform Saudi Arabia into a thriving tourist and commercial center, diversifying the economy away from its reliance on crude oil.
The diplomat, who spoke anonymously to the Associated Press (AP) because of the sensitivity of the issue in Saudi Arabia, visited the store and compared its ambiance to that of an upscale duty-free store in a large international airport.
The store currently offers alcoholic beverages, wine and only two types of beer. Guests must present diplomatic identification and cell phones must be placed in pouches inside. A mobile phone application allows purchases to be made according to an allocation system, the diplomat said.
Saudi authorities have made no official comment on the store’s opening. However, this opening coincides with a report published by the newspaper, “Arab News”, affiliated with the state, describing the new rules governing the sale of alcohol to diplomats. These rules, which aim to control the importation of these drinks in diplomatic shipments, came into force on Monday.
Traditionally, diplomats import alcoholic beverages through specialized services for consumption in diplomatic premises. Those without access resort to purchasing from illegal sources or making their own drinks, although the risks involved include harsh penalties such as long prison sentences, high fines, floggings public and deportation, according to the US State Department.
Consumption of alcohol is prohibited by Islam and Saudi Arabia remains one of the few countries in the world with a strict alcohol ban, along with neighboring Kuwait and the city of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has banned alcohol since the early 1950s.