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Saudi Arabia, which has been getting rid of a few of its stricter social norms underneath Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is getting ready to open its first alcohol retailer within the capital metropolis of Riyadh, Reuters reported on Wednesday. The shop will serve completely non-Muslim diplomats. To entry liquor, prospects must register through a cell app, get a clearance code from the international ministry, and respect month-to-month quotas with their purchases.
Consuming alcohol is forbidden in Islam. In Saudi Arabia, consuming alcohol is punishable by a whole lot of lashes, deportation, fines, or imprisonment.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who assumed energy in June 2017, has been making efforts to open the conservative Kingdom for tourism and enterprise.
In 2016, Saudi Arabia launched its Imaginative and prescient 2030 underneath which it pledges to make the Kingdom – “a vibrant society, a thriving financial system, and an formidable nation”. Reuters reported that this alcohol retailer can be a part of the Imaginative and prescient 2030 to construct a post-oil financial system.
The brand new retailer is situated in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, a neighbourhood the place embassies and diplomats reside and will probably be “strictly restricted” to non-Muslims, the doc mentioned as per the information company. Nonetheless, it was unclear if different non-Muslim expatriates could have entry to the shop.
Tens of millions of expatriates reside in Saudi Arabia however most of them are Muslim staff from Asia and Egypt.
Saudi Arabia, which was comparatively closed off for many years, has in recent times relaxed strict social codes, reminiscent of segregating women and men in public locations and requiring ladies to put on all-covering black robes, or abayas.
In December 2017, Saudi Arabia lifted a 35-year ban on business theaters. In that very same 12 months, the Kingdom additionally ended a ban on ladies drivers, allowed ladies to attend sporting occasions, and increase their participation within the workforce.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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