leading the reforms in the kingdom.
Saudi Crown Prince Bin Salman/Reuters
Saudi Arabia plans to open its first liquor store in the capital Riyadh, which will serve only non-Muslim diplomats - according to a document on the subject obtained by the Reuters news agency.
According to the document, customers will have to register through a phone app, receive a code from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and respect their monthly quota.
This step is a milestone in the kingdom's efforts, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to open the conservative kingdom to tourists and businesses, even though Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol.
It is also part of "Vision 2030", Bin Salman's plan to build an economy that does not rely only on the oil industry but is based on the development of local industries and regional logistics centers.
The new store is in Riyadh's diplomatic quarter, where foreign embassies are located.
The document emphasizes that access to it will be limited only to non-Muslims aged 21 and over, and in appropriate clothing.
It is unclear whether non-Muslim foreign nationals will be able to enter the store.
Millions of foreign nationals live in Saudi Arabia, but most are Muslims from Egypt and other Asian countries.
A source familiar with the plans told Reuters that the store is expected to open in the coming weeks.
Saudi society is opening up.
Women walk past a poster of King Salman/Reuters
The punishment in Saudi Arabia for consuming alcohol can reach hundreds of lashes, fines, imprisonment and deportation for foreigners.
As part of the reforms that the Muslim kingdom underwent in recent years, flogging punishments were mostly replaced by prison sentences.
Until today, alcohol was only accessible through diplomatic mail or the black market.
The ban came into effect in 1952, after one of the sons of King Ibn Saud, the founder of the kingdom, shot dead a British diplomat while drunk.
The Saudi government did not respond to the report.
The official media reported this week that the government imposed new restrictions on the import of alcohol among the diplomatic staff living in the country, and these may increase demand for the new store.
The Arab News newspaper reported that the new regulations will reduce the import of alcohol into the country as part of the fight against "inappropriate exchange of special goods and alcoholic beverages received by embassies of non-Muslim countries within Saudi Arabia."
Customers will be limited to 240 "points" to purchase alcohol per month.
A liter of alcohol will be worth six points, a liter of wine three points and a liter of beer one point.
Saudi Arabia, which was reclusive for decades, has eased social restrictions in recent years, such as separating men and women in public places and requiring women to cover their entire bodies with a black abaya.
The establishment of Prince Mohammed's rule was accompanied by changes that include the opening of the kingdom to non-religious tourism and music concerts, along with the cancellation of the ban on women driving.
This is at the same time as suppressing the critics and opponents of the Saudi crown prince, de facto control of the largest oil producer in the world.
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