The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has for the first time in over 70 years, witnessed the opening of a shop selling alcohol. Though there has been no official comment from the Saudi authorities on the store opening, the store situated in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, is reportedly intended to exclusively cater to non-Muslim diplomats. According to unnamed sources, the opening of the country's first liquor store in decades, aligns with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's ambitious plans to transform Saudi Arabia into a thriving tourism and business hub, diversifying the economy away from its reliance on crude oil.
Read Also: US Government Slams Nigeria Over Emefiele, Kanu's Arrests
The consumption of alcohol is forbidden in Islam, and Saudi Arabia remains one of the few countries worldwide with a strict ban on alcohol, along with neighbouring Kuwait and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia banned the sale, distribution and imbibing of alcohol since 1952, after a Saudi prince shot and fatally wounded a British diplomat in a drunken rage.
Comments
Post a Comment