Rabat – Saudi Arabia is gearing up to open its first alcohol store in Riyadh. The plans are groundbreaking for a country that prohibits purchasing or consuming the substance.
According to Reuters, the store will only serve non-Muslim diplomats.
Although there has yet to be an official announcement,the news outlet quoted a source knowledgeable about the plans.
The source revealed that customers will have to register via a mobile app and receive a clearance code from the country’s Foreign Ministry in order to shop at the store. They will also have to respect monthly quotas with their alcohol purchases.
The opening of the alcohol store comes as Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been approving new laws and regulations set to boost the country’s business and tourism.
The decision is part of the country’s Vision 2030, a Saudi development roadmap that aims to to build a post-oil economy, Reuters reported. The official website reads that the launch of Vision 2030 has “laid a solid foundation for success” due to the implementation of “unprecedented reforms” in the public sector, economy, and society as a whole.
Drinking alcohol is forbidden in Islam. Selling, purchasing or consuming alcohol in Saudi Arabia is illegal.According to Business Today, drinking alcohol in Saudi Arabia is punishable by “hundreds of lashes, deportation, fines or imprisonment.”
This is not the first time the country has started to open up more liberal policies. For the past couple of years, Saudi Arabia has been hosting several mixed-gender festivals. Before recently, such events did not exist.
