Saudi Arabia Breaks Tradition With Inaugural Alcohol Outlet
Image Credit: Trip advisor| Courtyard by Marriott Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter

The opening of Saudi Arabia's first alcohol store in Riyadh marks a significant shift in the conservative Muslim kingdom, renowned for its strict adherence to Islamic law. Since 1952, following a tragic incident involving a Saudi prince and a British diplomat, alcohol has been banned in the country. However, despite the prohibition, alcohol has clandestinely found its way into the kingdom, often through foreign embassies and the black market. The store, exclusively serving non-Muslim diplomats, is situated in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter and requires customers to register through a mobile app and adhere to monthly quotas.


Saudi Arabia's historic move to open its first alcohol store, located in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's broader initiative, Vision 2030, to diversify the kingdom's economy and attract tourism and business. This store, catering exclusively to non-Muslim diplomats, requires customers to register via a mobile app and obtain a clearance code from the foreign ministry, in addition to respecting monthly purchase quotas.

The decision to open an alcohol store comes after decades of strict prohibition under Islamic law, which bans the consumption of alcohol. The ban, in place since 1952, was a reaction to a tragic event involving a Saudi prince and a British diplomat. Despite this, alcohol has been a clandestine fixture in the country, often smuggled through diplomatic channels or produced illegally.

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Diplomatic missions have been known to import alcohol, and a thriving black market has seen prices for alcoholic beverages skyrocket. For instance, a one-liter bottle of vodka could fetch between $500 and $600, and premium spirits like Johnnie Walker Blue Label could command prices ranging from $1,000 to $2,000.

The new store's location in the Diplomatic Quarter, an area housing various embassies and diplomats, underlines its restricted access to a specific demographic. This limitation raises questions about the accessibility of alcohol to the wider non-Muslim expatriate community in Saudi Arabia, which includes millions of expatriates, predominantly Muslim workers from Asia and Egypt.

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The Saudi government has also introduced new restrictions on alcohol imports within diplomatic consignments. This move, aimed at combating the illicit trade of alcohol goods, ensures that diplomats from non-Muslim embassies have access to these products within specified quotas, adhering to international diplomatic conventions.

The opening of the alcohol store reflects a broader trend of social and economic reforms in Saudi Arabia under Prince Mohammed's leadership. These reforms include relaxing strict social codes, such as the segregation of men and women in public places and the requirement for women to wear all-covering black robes. Additionally, the kingdom has opened up for non-religious tourism, hosted concerts, and allowed women to drive.

However, the reforms have been accompanied by a crackdown on dissent and political rivals, reflecting the complex nature of the changes underway in Saudi Arabia. Vision 2030 encompasses the development of local industries and logistics hubs and aims to create hundreds of thousands of jobs for Saudi nationals, signifying a shift towards a post-oil economy.