"First Alcohol Store Opens in Saudi Arabia After 70 Years, Exclusively for Diplomats and Select Group"
Saudi Arabia has opened its first alcohol shop in over 70 years, exclusively catering to non-Muslim diplomats in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's efforts to diversify the economy and transform the kingdom into a tourism and business hub. The store offers liquor, wine, and limited beer types, with purchases made through a mobile app and strict identification requirements. The move aligns with new regulations governing alcohol sales to diplomats, aiming to control imports within diplomatic consignments. Saudi Arabia has maintained a strict ban on alcohol since the early 1950s, in adherence to Islamic law.