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Saudi Arabia to allow alcohol sale in 600 venues starting 2026

The gulf country has announced plans allow controlled sale of alcohol starting 2026 (photo courtesy)

In a headline-making move, Saudi Arabia has announced it will allow the controlled sale and consumption of alcohol starting in 2026, a seismic shift for a country long known for its strict ban on booze.

This historic change is part of the Kingdom's ambitious Vision 2030, aimed at transforming Saudi Arabia into a global tourism and business hotspot just in time for two massive events on the calendar: Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034.

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