An Official has denied reports that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia plans to lift its decades-long ban on alcohol before the 2034 FIFA World Cup, Middle East Eye via Reuters reported on May 27th.
This claim began circulating after a wine blog reported last week that alcohol would soon be available in licensed venues, including luxury hotels and resorts, which was not based on any official sources.
On May 26th, a Saudi official told Reuters that the claims were inaccurate. A source with knowledge of the matter said to Arab News: “These claims lack any official confirmation from relevant authorities and do not reflect existing policies or regulations in Saudi Arabia.”
Alcohol has been banned in the kingdom since 1952, although recent years have seen a gradual loosening of certain social restrictions as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 strategy. The initiative aims to diversify the economy beyond oil and reshape Saudi Arabia’s global image.
In line with Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has introduced cinemas, music festivals, and fashion shows, while also easing restrictions on women’s rights and gender segregation in public spaces. In 2017, the kingdom removed its prohibition on women driving.
In 2024, the first alcohol shop in Riyadh opened its doors, intended solely for non-Muslim diplomats. Before this, alcohol was only accessible via the black market or through diplomatic shipment. The move, officials said, was designed to regulate and monitor alcohol use, not to expand public availability.
Speculation about alcohol availability in 2034 follows Qatar’s decision to ban stadium alcohol sales but permit it in designated fan zones, during the 2022 Qatar World Cup. In February, Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the UK, confirmed that alcohol would not be sold in stadiums during the tournament. “Rather like our weather, it’s a dry country,” he said.
“Everyone has their own culture, and we’re happy to accommodate people within the boundaries of ours,” the ambassador added. “But we don’t want to change our culture for someone else.”
On May 14th, Human Rights Watch (HRW) raised concerns over the dangers facing migrant workers who will build the stadiums for the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia, Al-Monitor via AFP reported.
HRW said: “Scores of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia die in gruesome yet avoidable workplace-related accidents, including falling from buildings, electrocution, and even decapitation.”
Middle East Eye via Reuters, Al-Monitor via AFP
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