Reuters, citing sources, claimed that Saudi Arabia is planning to open two more bars soon.
According to Reuters, one of these two bars will be opened in the eastern province of Dharan for non-Muslim employees of petroleum company Aramco.
The Reuters report added that a second bar would be set up in Jeddah for non-Muslim diplomats.
Sources told Reuters that the two breweries could possibly open in 2026, with no final dates announced.
The news of the opening of two new bars has come after the Saudi crown prince’s special visit to America after seven years.
Reuters tried to contact Saudi officials and Aramco management to confirm the news, but both declined to comment.
It should be noted that after 73 years, last year, Saudi Arabia opened the first bar for non-Muslim diplomats in the diplomatic area of the capital Riyadh.
This brewery is informally known as the “Booze Bunker”. The store was seen as a sign of relaxation of strict regulations on the availability of alcohol in Saudi Arabia.
Non-Muslim “Saudi Premium Residency” holders have also recently been allowed to shop at this Riyadh bar.
It should be noted that alcohol is still completely prohibited in Saudi Arabia, but the country has rapidly increased the freedom of entertainment events, concerts, cinema and other activities.
Apart from this, women have also been allowed to drive and various traditional and social restrictions on them have also been relaxed.
17 new luxury hotels will be opened by next year under ‘Red Sea Global’ to promote tourism and global investment in Saudi Arabia.
However, all these luxury hotels and resorts will remain alcohol-free.
An unconfirmed report recently claimed that Saudi Arabia plans to allow alcohol sales in tourist areas, especially in preparation for the 2034 soccer World Cup.
The Saudi authorities dismissed all such reports as baseless and false, explaining that the ban on alcohol in the country will remain in place.
Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khatib said in an interview that the wishes of foreign tourists are realized, but the ban on alcohol remains.
