A New Facade: Saudi Arabia's Strategic Shift in Alcohol Policies

A few hours ago, BBC Hausa reported that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would soon open shops specifically selling alcohol to diplomatic envoys in the country. The report was received with mixed emotions from Muslims in Nigeria; some laughed at it, others startled and outraged. But the latter group reacted the most. I know that the revelation rang unbelievably in their heads, looking at alcohol’s prohibition in Islam. Well, it's understandable to be shocked by such a report, particularly if you are not in touch with the country’s ongoing radical economic and social reforms under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Bin Salman (MBS), the incumbent de facto ruler and heir apparent to the kingdom. 

Nevertheless, for me, I wasn't startled by the report. It's no longer a secret that we are in an unprecedented period of ambiguous geopolitical rivalry between the most powerful and rapidly growing countries such as Saudi Arabia, China, India, and Russia. This means that Saudi Arabia is running against time to catch up with the rest of the world. Hence it increasingly improves its social welfare and freedom, as well as diversifies its fossil fuels-based economy and security to meet the demands of the unfolding new global order. 

Therefore, for Saudi Arabia to play a significant economic and political role on the global stage, the country needs to loosen some of its hairline rules. So, this move to legalize alcohol in closely monitored shops is purely political. Muhammad Bin Salman is on a bold mission to make the Middle East the “new Europe” in terms of technological, political, and economic advancement. He has repeatedly said that his country, Saudi Arabia, is at the forefront of making this goal a reality. This is why the kingdom is bringing new reforms such as allowing women to drive, mixed social gatherings, and the freedom for women to go out without headscarves, and now radically to sell alcohol. 

For a long time, Saudi Arabia has been facing harsh criticism for its human rights violations from Western countries. The criticism has caused the country to be unable to lure as many foreign investments as possible. So, allowing diplomatic envoys to easily get access to alcohol in the country is a great show of giving the kingdom a new facade that may likely change the negative views and narratives held by the Western world. 

So, I don't think you should bother yourself about Saudi Arabia selling alcohol despite hosting one of the most revered mosques in the Muslim world. Besides, the new shops will be closely monitored and designated in Riyadh, the capital of the country, where the diplomatic envoys are located.

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