Saudi Arabia denies lifting alcohol ban before 2034 World Cup

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has refuted recent media reports suggesting an end to its long-standing ban on alcohol. On Monday, Reuters reported that a Saudi official dismissed claims that the kingdom was preparing to lift the 73-year-old prohibition, citing Saudi media outlets. 

The speculation began with a report on a blog and unverified news outlets last week. Some international news outlets subsequently picked it up. These reports suggested that Saudi Arabia was planning to permit the controlled sale of alcohol in anticipation of hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup. However, the source of this information was not identified.
The report ignited considerable discussion online within Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has embarked on an ambitious journey to transform its tourism sector as part of its Vision 2030 plan for economic diversification. On Monday, KSA unveiled the 50-year tourism roadmap after the Kingdom welcomed nearly 100 million visitors.

The Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb also unveiled Tourise - an industry-defining platform to drive this vision forward. Scheduled to take place from November 11 to 13 in Riyadh, Tourise 2025 will convene leading experts, investors, and innovators from both the public and private sectors.

Under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country is undergoing a series of reforms aimed at diversifying its economy beyond oil and boosting tourism and business. 

In a limited move last year, the first alcohol store in Riyadh was opened. Still, it exclusively serves non-Muslim diplomats, according to official reports.  Saudi Arabia continues to maintain strict laws against alcohol consumption, with penalties ranging from deportation and fines to imprisonment. In December 2024, Saudi Arabia was formally confirmed as the host nation by FIFA following an uncontested bidding process.

Qatar, another GCC country that hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022, sold beverages in special fan zones outside the stadiums. No alcohol was sold at the stadiums, which hosted the tournament's 64 matches.

(Source: Gulf News)