Last week, a report was picked up by international news platforms when a wine blog posted that Saudi Arabia has prepared to lift the 73-year-old alcohol ban in 600 tourist settings as the country prepares to host the 2034 soccer World Cup.
The blog, however, did not give a source for the information.
The news spread like fire in both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and outside, encouraging debate. People began questioning how far will Saudi Arabia go to please its international guests, particularly in light of the countryโs religious significance.
The news has, however, been denied by officials.
The Alleged Claimsย
The report claimed that alcohol will be made available in five-star hotels, resorts, and designated zones within large-scale tourism projects such as NEOM, the Red Sea Project, and Sindalah Island.
Permitted alcoholic drinks included wine, beer and cider, with a maximum alcohol content of 20%. Spirits and other high-alcohol beverages will remain banned.
The lifting of the 73-year-old alcohol ban came as part of Vision 2030, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmanโs wide-reaching plan to diversify the Saudi economy and reduce reliance on oil revenues.
The plan aimed to position the country as a major destination for international tourism and investment.
The Liberal King of the Ultra-Conservative Land
A few years ago if such a news had gone viral, no one would have believed it. The Holy Land, the land of God, His Prophet (PBUP) is considered sacred in Islam but in the recent years, many relaxations and developments have been made which were once unthinkable.
Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, in recent years, has pushed some reforms like ending a prohibition on allowing women to drive in 2017, easing some rules on sex segregation in public spaces and reducing the power of the religious police.
While some of these reforms are positive, many have resulted in outrageous debates throughout the world. In recent times, KSA hosted raves, fashion shows and even red carpets. Post this, the alleged news of the lifting of the alcohol ban seemed plausible.
However, a senior Saudi official has completely denied the authenticity of the news.
The only legit development in this matter came last year when an alcohol store opened in Riyadh to serve the non-Muslim diplomats. Prior to that, alcohol was only available through diplomatic channels or the black market.
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