Alcohol Ban Lift
A Saudi official firmly denied media reports circulating on Monday that claimed the kingdom was planning to lift its longstanding 73-year-old ban on alcohol, a substance strictly prohibited for Muslims under Saudi law.
These reports, which initially appeared on a wine blog last week and were subsequently picked up by various international media outlets, suggested that Saudi authorities intended to permit alcohol sales in certain tourist areas as part of the country’s preparations to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. However, the report did not cite any official source, raising doubts about its accuracy.
Saudi Arabia has been making significant efforts to modernize and diversify its economy through its Vision 2030 plan, which aims to reduce the country’s heavy reliance on oil revenues.
As part of this initiative, the kingdom has gradually relaxed some social restrictions to attract more tourists and international businesses. These reforms have included allowing women to drive since 2017, easing rules on gender segregation in public spaces, and curbing the powers of the religious police.
Despite these changes, the ban on alcohol remains a sensitive and deeply rooted issue in Saudi Arabia, especially given the kingdom’s unique religious status.
The Saudi King, who is also the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques — Islam’s holiest sites in Mecca and Medina — carries significant religious responsibilities, and the prohibition of alcohol is closely tied to Islamic principles followed rigorously in the country.
Alongside Saudi Arabia, Kuwait is one of the only Gulf countries that maintains a strict prohibition on the sale of alcoholic beverages. The kingdom has made limited exceptions; for example, last year, Riyadh opened its first official alcohol store, which exclusively serves non-Muslim diplomats stationed in the country.
Before this, alcohol was only accessible through diplomatic mail channels or the black market, underscoring how tightly controlled its availability has been.
The false reports about lifting the alcohol ban sparked a lively debate on social media within Saudi Arabia, reflecting the diverse opinions among its citizens and residents regarding the pace and nature of the ongoing reforms.
However, the official denial reaffirmed that the kingdom continues to uphold its ban on alcohol in line with its cultural and religious values, making it clear that no changes are planned regarding this long-standing prohibition.
