Saudi Arabia to open first alcohol store

WORLD, Jan. 24 (YPA) -Saudi Arabia is preparing to open its first alcohol store in the capital Riyadh, and it will serve exclusively non-Muslim diplomats, according to a document seen by Reuters.

Customers will have to register via a mobile app, get a clearance code from the Saudi foreign ministry, and respect monthly quotas with their purchases,  the document said.

The new store is located in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, a neighbourhood where embassies and diplomats reside and will be “strictly restricted” to non-Muslims, according to the document.

It was unclear if other non-Muslim expatriates will have access to the store. Millions of expatriates live in Saudi Arabia but most of them are Muslim workers from Asia and Egypt.

The move is a milestone in the kingdom’s efforts, led by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to open the ultra-conservative Muslim country for tourism and business as drinking alcohol is forbidden in Islam.

E.M