Saudi Arabia is on the verge of establishing its first-ever liquor store in its capital city, Riyadh.
Specifically set in the Diplomatic Quarter, the establishment will exclusively cater to non-Muslim envoys and diplomats, according to an anonymous source cited in a Reuters report.
Potential clients will be required to adhere to a unique system for purchases, which encompasses registration through a mobile application, obtaining a clearance code from the foreign ministry, and respecting imposed monthly purchasing limits. It is anticipated that the alcohol boutique will open its doors in the coming weeks.
While the ground-breaking shop intends to serve non-Muslim diplomats exclusively, whether non-Muslim expatriates will have store access remains unclear. This comes amid the Kingdom’s strict legislation against alcohol consumption, with the law levying severe punishments for infringement, including lashings, deportation, cash fines, and incarceration.
Despite requests, the Saudi government has refrained from commenting on this development.
Coinciding with this novelty, the country’s state media reported the government’s intention to tighten the reins on alcohol imports in diplomatic parcels, a strategy likely to ramp up demands for the newly established liquor store.
The measure aims to curtail the “improper exchange of special goods and alcoholic beverages received by the embassies of non-Muslim nations within Saudi Arabia,” as per Arab News Daily’s Sunday report.
Observers speculate that this innovation is part of the ongoing social reforms spearheaded by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The endeavor is meant to transform the ultra-conservative Muslim nation into a more welcoming destination for tourists and entrepreneurs.
Moreover, this initiative aligns with the overarching Vision 2030, which aims to cultivate an economy that does not rely solely on oil.
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This post was last modified on January 25, 2024 3:26 am
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It is a sad day & black day for Saudi Arabia. Many more such stores will come in future. It is only a beginning of the downfall. It is as if Saudi is facing cash crunch & needs money from Haram sources. Keep it up.
Thanks to Saudi reforms that brought the cat out of the bag. Saudi Arabia will now earn substantive money from the revenue generated by liquor sales and will spend that on pilgrimages and development in the twin holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. Such mix up of revenue earned through the sale of liquor will contaminate the worship of the pilgrims. The Saudi Arabia government has no moral right to allow the sale of intoxicants prohibited in Islam on its land which Muslims revere as the most pious and holy. Heaven will not fall if such a sale of liquor is not allowed in Saudi Arabia. What type of reform is this? If allowing the sale of liquor, opening gambling houses and legalising prostitution are the signs of reforms, then Saudi Arabia should change its national flag having Kalma Taiyyaba. Would the Saudi government issue permits or licences for liquor shops with the seal of the Kalma? Muslim Ummah should think about the Saudi government's decisions and put pressure to reconsider their decision to open liquor shops, bars or clubs in the name of reform. Such steps of Saudis in the name of reforms to please their foreign bosses reflect their enslaved minds and thoughts inviting the Ummah to reject Saudi Arabia as their spiritual leader.
it seems that some weakest point or dark secret of Prince Salman is known to the zionist forces and they are thus blackmailing Prince Salman to dance on their own tune. Even if one calculate Prince Salman Behaviour for the war by Israel against innocent palestinians, it is more than obvious that he is not dictating or saying anything on his own. His regime is the most ominous period and black days for the Saudis Arabia .