Saudi Arabia Opens Doors to Alcohol for Elite Foreigners
The Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh, a long-standing affluent enclave, now houses a discreet store serving as a testing ground for Saudi Arabia’s controlled sale of alcohol to wealthy non-Muslim foreigners. This development signals a sensitive policy shift within the kingdom, which previously banned alcohol sales in 1952. These changes are part of broader reforms under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aimed at reshaping Saudi Arabia’s image as a more moderate and investment-friendly society, building on recent reopenings of cinemas, music festivals, and the lifting of the ban on women driving.
John Q. Hosedrinker