Saudi Arabia plans to permit non-Muslim diplomats to purchase alcohol, sources say

One of many sources mentioned the alcohol “will likely be offered to non-Muslim diplomats” who used to import alcohol by means of diplomatic mail.

Saudi Arabia banned alcohol in 1952, shortly after one in every of King Abdulaziz’s sons shot lifeless a British diplomat whereas intoxicated.

Rumors have swirled for years that alcohol could be accessible for buy in Saudi Arabia as a part of a sequence of social reforms below the Imaginative and prescient 2030 program. They have been undertaken by the inheritor to the throne and de facto ruler of the dominion, Prince Mohammed bin Salman (Mohamed bin Salman).

In an announcement issued on Wednesday by the Saudi authorities, the authorities are in search of to introduce “a brand new regulatory framework (…) to fight the unlawful commerce in alcohol items and merchandise obtained by diplomatic missions”.

The assertion added that “the brand new course of will deal with the allocation of particular portions of alcohol items coming into the Kingdom to finish the earlier unregulated course of which left the change of such items uncontrolled within the Kingdom.”

Nevertheless, many of the 32 million For Saudis, who’ve restricted entry to alcohol, this is not going to imply a lot change.

Based on Saudi Arabian regulation, consuming or possessing alcohol is punishable by fines, imprisonment, public flogging, and deportation for foreigners.

Final 12 months, Saudi Arabia was awarded the rights to host Expo 2030 and the 2034 World Cup, fueling speak that the alcohol ban may very well be lifted, or a minimum of weakened, with reservations in locations just like the deliberate futuristic megalopolis.

Nevertheless, provided that alcohol is prohibited in Islam, the problem stays extremely delicate in a rustic that has the faith’s holiest websites within the cities of Mecca and Medina.

Saudi officers in recent times have dismissed any suggestion of a significant change in coverage.

“The quick reply is: we are going to proceed to abide by the present legal guidelines,” Deputy Tourism Minister Princess Haifa al Saud mentioned when requested straight about it on the 2022 Davos World Financial Discussion board.