Saudi Arabia on Monday dismissed reports in the media that the kingdom will relax its 73-year-old prohibition on alcohol, banned for Muslims in Islam, as part of reform efforts in preparation to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Unverified Reports Spark Controversy in Saudi Arabia
The alleged proposal, which was covered by a wine blog last week, stated Saudi officials were considering to permit the sale of alcohol in tourist environments as the kingdom gears up to host the sports extravaganza. The report cited no source for this information.
The report evoked an online controversy among citizens of the kingdom, which refers to itself as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques – Islam’s holiest sites in Mecca and Medina.
Only Saudi Arabia and Kuwait ban alcohol sales in the Gulf region. Last year saw some easing of alcohol restrictions when the first alcohol shop in the capital, Riyadh, opened last year selling only to non-Muslim diplomats. Alcohol was previously accessible only via diplomatic mail or on the black market.
Vision 2030 and Reforms Under MBS in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s effective leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS, has introduced a series of reforms since taking control of the kingdom’s affairs. These formed part of his efforts to diversify the economy of the kingdom away from oil under his Vision 2030.
MBS granted permission to women to drive in 2017 and also carried out other reforms that were deemed impossible earlier in the petroleum-rich kingdom. Certain sex segregation rules in public places were relaxed and the authority of the religious police was held in check.
Women above 21 years were granted permission to secure passports and travel overseas without the consent of their male guardians. They were permitted to register births, marriages, and divorces as well.
Opening Doors to Global Visitors
Other steps taken to welcome foreign visitors are letting people dance at desert raves to viewing models on catwalks or attending the movies.
MBS’s $14 trillion megacity “NEOM” with futuristic projects such as “The Line” and “Trojena,” a vertical ski village have garnered international attention.
