Saudi Arabia to raise booze ban at 600 vacationer places by 2026 in bid to lure in holidaymakers forward of World Cup
SAUDI Arabia will raise its long-standing booze ban at 600 vacationer websites by 2026 — in a boozy bid to draw guests forward of the 2034 FIFA World Cup and 2030 Expo.
In a shock U-turn, the ultra-conservative Kingdom will enable the sale of wine, beer, and cider at licensed places together with five-star inns, luxurious resorts, and expat-friendly compounds.
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Booze will nonetheless be banned in public, houses, retailers, and fan zones — with spirits off the menu altogether beneath strict new guidelines.
The dramatic coverage shift is a part of Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman‘s Imaginative and prescient 2030 drive to spice up worldwide tourism, lure overseas money and shake off its teetotal picture.
Officers hope managed alcohol gross sales in glitzy areas like Neom, Sindalah Island and the Crimson Sea Challenge will assist the nation compete with Gulf rivals just like the UAE and Bahrain — the place boozing is already authorized in vacationer zones.
Licensed venues will function beneath a tightly regulated system, with educated workers and strict guidelines to stop abuse and uphold the Kingdom’s Islamic values.
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The purpose, authorities stated, “is to welcome the world with out shedding cultural id — positioning Saudi Arabia as a progressive, but respectful participant on the worldwide tourism map.”
The plan is about to roll out in 2026 — eight years earlier than the World Cup kicks off — and comes amid rising stress to modernise the Kingdom’s picture.
A number of world resort chains are already rejigging their blueprints to accommodate booze zones, with tourism bosses eyeing a flood of recent jobs and worldwide funding.
It follows a dry storm earlier this yr when Saudi’s ambassador to the UK introduced alcohol will likely be banned totally on the 2034 World Cup, sparking fury amongst England followers.
Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud informed LBC radio in February: “There isn’t any alcohol in any respect, moderately like our climate, it’s a dry nation.
“Everybody has their very own tradition. We’re pleased to accommodate individuals throughout the boundaries of our tradition however we don’t need to change our tradition for another person.
“It isn’t a Saudi occasion, it’s a world occasion and, to a big extent, we’ll welcome everybody who needs to return.”
Fan Tim Bailey fumed on X: “Their nation, their guidelines. However why the f*** would anybody need to go there anyway?”
One supporter added: “Bizarre . . . they at all times need everybody else to alter their tradition for them.”
However now, Saudi insiders hope the brand new booze coverage will silence critics and present the nation is able to celebration — with limits.
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Sources say the mannequin is impressed by profitable alcohol rollouts in Dubai and Manama, the place tight management has boosted tourism and enterprise with out trashing custom.
The Kingdom insists this is not going to be a free-for-all — and anybody caught misusing the system will face swift penalties.
“Gross sales will solely occur beneath managed environments, with licensed service workers and clear operational guidelines in place to verify alcohol is dealt with responsibly and respectfully,” a authorities assertion learn.
Spirits and exhausting liquor above 20% ABV will stay banned, with no signal of outlets, takeaways or dwelling brewing being permitted.
Why is alcohol banned in Saudi Arabia?
ALCOHOL is banned in Saudi Arabia as a result of the nation’s authorized system is predicated on Islamic regulation, or Sharia, which strictly prohibits the consumption, sale, and possession of alcohol.
This ban stems from Islam’s teachings, significantly the Qur’an, which considers intoxicants to be haram, or forbidden.
Verses within the Qur’an warn towards using alcohol, culminating in a transparent directive for believers to keep away from it altogether.
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Sunni Islam generally known as Wahhabism, which enforces these spiritual prohibitions by means of regulation.
In consequence, producing, importing, or consuming alcohol is unlawful and punishable by harsh penalties, together with fines, imprisonment, deportation for foreigners, and previously, public flogging.
The ban can also be deeply rooted within the nation’s conservative social norms, the place alcohol is related to immoral conduct and societal disruption.
The ruling Saudi royal household additionally depends on assist from the spiritual institution, and sustaining the alcohol ban reinforces their political legitimacy and alignment with Islamic values.
Whereas current reforms beneath the Imaginative and prescient 2030 initiative are pushing for modernization, together with a managed rollout of alcohol gross sales in vacationer areas from 2026, the core prohibition stays firmly in place to protect cultural and non secular id.
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