Preparations to open the first alcohol store in Saudi Arabia
The first alcohol store in Saudi Arabia is set to open in the diplomatic quarter in the capital Riyadh in the coming weeks.
According to Reuters, the alcohol store is being opened to foreign diplomats, and according to the news agency, buyers will first have to obtain a clearance code from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs to purchase alcohol.
This clearance code will be available through a mobile app and buyers will be given a specific monthly quota. According to the writer, it is not clear whether non-Muslim expatriates living in the kingdom will also be able to benefit from this.
The Saudi Arabian government has yet to comment on the news, but it should be noted that alcohol is banned under Saudi law and carries severe penalties, including public flogging.