In Saudi Arabia, a cafe creates controversy by serving non-alcoholic beer

Controversy is growing in Saudi Arabia after a cafe in Riyadh, inspired by European pubs, began serving non-alcoholic beer. The establishment, which broadcasts matches and offers peanuts and “halal” drinks, attracts a curious clientele, arousing both enthusiasm and criticism. “As long as the alcohol level is zero, it poses no problem for me,” confides a young Saudi, illustrating the evolution of morals in the kingdom. This controversy comes as Saudi Arabia quietly expands access to alcohol. According to the American media Semafor, non-Muslim holders of premium residence – a status intended for high-income expatriates – can now buy alcohol in a store in Riyadh previously reserved for diplomats. The change has not been officially announced; new customers say they were informed informally.

This gradual opening is part of the country’s modernization strategy. The kingdom, committed to the Vision 2030 program, wants to attract 150 million tourists per year and diversify its economy. Since the 2010s, the authorities have multiplied the signals of relaxation: reopening of cinemas, concerts, leisure areas… and now a more formalized management of alcoholic beverages, long tolerated in the private sphere of certain elites.

Access nevertheless remains very controlled, limited to a restricted group of foreign residents, which allows the government to seduce international talents while preserving religious prohibitions and the role of the kingdom as guardian of the two holy mosques. These unprecedented scenes – Western-style cafes and targeted relaxations – reveal the extent of the social transformations underway in Saudi Arabia.