Saudi Arabia To Remove Ban On The Sale Of Alcohol For The First Time In 72 Years

Saudi Arabia is set to remove the ban on the sale of alcohol within it’s territory, making it legal to drink alcohol in Saudi for the first time in 72 years.

A store exclusively accessible to non-Muslim diplomats, with strict purchasing quotas and registration requirements will open to counter the counter “the illicit trade of alcohol”.

According to a document seen by the AFP and Reuters news agencies, the new store will be located in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter west of the city centre.

The move marks a significant milestone in opening the firmly conservative Muslim nation for travel and business, spearheaded by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Despite the controlled nature of the reform some Riyadh residents see the development as the first step towards a reversal of the nationwide prohibition that has been in place since 1952.