Saudi Arabia is making plans to open its first store serving alcohol, Reuters reported, targeting non-Muslim diplomats.
The store is set to open in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, the report said. Drinking alcohol is still illegal for Saudi citizens.
Customers will have to log in to an app, get permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and meet monthly installments, according to the report.
It will be in Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, though it’s unclear if it will also host non-Muslim expats.
The move comes as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman seeks to liberalize the country’s image, which stems from an ultra-conservative interpretation of Islam.
Restrictive legislation has been relaxed in recent years, in particular with the lifting of the driving ban.
Under Saudi law, alcohol is banned, and judges can hand out severe punishments, including public flogging.
However, there is a black market and the government turns a blind eye to craft beer brewing and alcohol consumption in neighborhoods where many foreigners live.
Bars serving nonalcoholic cocktails have opened in Riyadh, and alcohol is set to be available at a beach resort in the under-construction megacity of Neom, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Crown Prince Mohammed is seeking to attract foreign tourism and billions in investment while moving the kingdom away from its dependence on fossil fuels as a component of his Vision 2030 plan.
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