Saudi Arabia is preparing to open its first alcohol store exclusively for non-Muslim diplomats in the capital Riyadh, according to people familiar with the plans and documents.
Customers must register via a mobile app, obtain a clearance code from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and meet monthly purchase quotas, according to a document seen by Reuters.
The move is a milestone in Saudi Arabia's efforts, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to open up the ultra-conservative Islamic nation, where alcohol is prohibited in Islam, to tourism and business.
It is also part of a broader plan known as Vision 2030 to build a post-oil economy.
The new store will be located in Riyadh's diplomatic district, where embassies and diplomats live, and access for non-Muslims will be “severely restricted,” the document said.
It is unclear whether other non-Muslim foreigners will have access to the store. Saudi Arabia is home to millions of foreigners, most of them Muslim workers from Asia and Egypt.
The store is expected to open in the coming weeks, according to people familiar with the plans.
Saudi Arabia has strict laws against alcohol, which can result in hundreds of lashes, deportation, fines or imprisonment, and foreigners are also subject to deportation. As part of the reforms, flogging was largely replaced with prison sentences.
Alcohol could only be obtained through diplomatic mail or on the black market.
