According to testimonies collected by US news sites Traffic lightsSaudi Arabia has expanded alcohol sales to non-Muslim communities living in the country thanks to a special program designed to attract high-skilled workers. Until now, the sale was reserved only for foreign diplomatic personnel from non-Islamic countries, who from January 2024 will be able to buy alcohol at a shop in the capital Riyadh, the first and only shop to open in the country after more than 70 years.
The Saudi government has not made any official announcements, but based on what we learn Traffic lights People with these residence permits managed to buy alcohol in Riyadh shops, and word that this could be done then spread by word of mouth. Neither the Saudi Communications Ministry nor the office that manages the Premium Residency program responded to the site’s request for comment.
In Islamic culture, the consumption of alcohol is considered a forbidden act, and in Saudi Arabia this has been prohibited since 1952. The opening of liquor stores is one of many initiatives that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has undertaken to attract more tourists and investment to Saudi Arabia, making it a more open country than it actually is. This residence permit, called Premium Residency, was introduced in 2019 and is currently aimed at foreigners earning more than 80 thousand riyals (18.5 thousand euros) per month, or certain categories of workers.
