In Saudi Arabia, a country with a long history of ultraconservatism, the opening of a liquor store in Riyadh was a revolutionary event. This is the first such place in the country in the last 70 years and may indicate further changes in society.
Although the store in the capital, Riyadh, is only for non-Muslim diplomats, it comes as Saudi Arabia's assertive Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman seeks to make the kingdom a tourist and business destination as part of ambitious plans to gradually liberalize the economy from dependence on crude oil.
The store is located next to a supermarket in Riyadh's diplomatic quarter, said the diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a socially sensitive topic in Saudi Arabia. On Wednesday, the diplomat walked through the store, describing it as a high-end duty-free shop in a major international airport.
Despite access restrictions and diplomatic ID requirements, the move shows that Saudi Arabia is gradually moving forward with ambitious plans led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Officials of the country did not comment on this initiative, but it is worth noting that it is happening in the context of new rules that regulate the sale of alcohol to diplomats. These regulations are aimed at controlling the importation of alcohol and spirits for diplomatic purposes.
The move could also be part of a strategy to transform Saudi Arabia into a tourism and business hub as part of ambitious plans to revive the country's economy and reduce its dependence on the oil sector.
