After a 73-year prohibition, Saudi Arabia has discreetly begun to permit wealthy foreign residents to purchase alcohol, a significant shift. As Sameer Hashmi reports from Riyadh, commentators anticipate that the relaxation will ultimately be extended to tourists.
For decades, Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter has distinguished itself from the rest of the capital city. This affluent enclave is characterised by upscale residences and embassies, as well as shaded walkways, vegetation, and a café culture that attracts both young Saudis and expatriates.
A small store has been transformed into a discreet testing ground for one of Saudi Arabia’s most sensitive policy shifts: the controlled sale of alcohol to affluent non-Muslim foreigners. The store is located within a discreet, unmarked beige complex in the exclusive neighbourhood.
In 1952, the sale of alcohol was prohibited in Saudi Arabia, which is the location of Islam’s two holiest sites. However, in recent years, the kingdom has implemented extensive social and economic reforms to foster a more moderate, investment-friendly society and to reshape its image.
The kingdom has reopened cinemas, hosted major music festivals, lifted the prohibition on women driving, and curtailed the powers of the once-feared religious police under the leadership of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler.
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