"First-Ever Alcohol Store Opens in Saudi Arabia, Exclusively for Diplomats and Select Group"

Saudi Arabia has opened its first liquor store in over 70 years, located in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter and restricted to non-Muslim diplomats. The store stocks liquor, wine, and two types of beer, with purchases made through a mobile app on an allotment system. This move is part of the kingdom's efforts to become a tourism and business destination, but challenges persist due to international reputation and conservative Islamic mores. The opening coincides with new rules governing alcohol sales to diplomats, aiming to curb uncontrolled importing. While Saudi Arabia remains one of the few nations with a ban on alcohol, reports suggest that alcohol could be served at the futuristic city project called Neom.