Saudi Arabia is preparing to open its first alcohol store in the capital, Riyadh, to serve non-Muslim diplomats exclusively.
A source familiar with the plans and a document told Reuters that customers must register via a mobile app, get a clearance code from the foreign ministry, and respect monthly quotas with their purchases.
The document said the new store is located in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, a neighborhood where embassies and diplomats reside, and will be "strictly restricted" to non-Muslims.
The move is a milestone in the kingdom's efforts, led by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to open the ultra-conservative Muslim country for tourism and business as drinking alcohol is forbidden in Islam.
It is also part of wider plans known as Vision 2030 to build a post-oil economy.
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It was unclear if other non-Muslim expatriates would have access to the store. Millions of expatriates live in Saudi Arabia but most of them are Muslim workers from Asia and Egypt.
A source familiar with the plans said the store is expected to open in the coming weeks.
Saudi Arabia has strict laws against drinking alcohol, which can be punishable by hundreds of lashes, deportation, fines, or imprisonment, and expatriates also face deportation. As part of the reforms, jail sentences have largely replaced whipping.
Alcohol has been available only through diplomatic mail or on the black market.
Prince Mohammed's tightening grip on power has been accompanied by changes which included opening the country for non-religious tourism, concerts and allowing women to drive, and a crackdown on dissent and political rivals.
Vision 2030 also includes developing local industries and logistics hubs and aims at adding hundreds of thousands of jobs for Saudi nationals.
