Saudi Arabia has till now been counted among the countries with the strictest liquor laws in the world. Meanwhile, the government has made such an amendment in the policy regarding liquor, which was completely banned for a long time, which has attracted everyone’s attention at the global level. Under the new system, non-Muslim foreign citizens who have a premium residency permit of Saudi Arabia. Those people can buy liquor from designated places within the country. However, this permission is not for the common people nor has it removed the general ban on liquor in the country.

Saudi Arabia’s only official liquor store is located in the Diplomatic Quarter of the capital Riyadh. This store looks absolutely normal from outside. No signboard or identification mark has been installed there. It was opened in January 2024, but at that time only non-Muslim diplomats were allowed to buy liquor here. Now its scope has been expanded to a limited extent. According to the information, the prices of liquor at this store are much higher than the normal international market. While diplomats will get tax exemption, premium residency holders will have to pay tax. At present, the options like beer and wine are said to be limited, but the store has been well managed and controlled.

Premium Residency a special scheme of Saudi Government

According to AP report, Premium Residency is a special scheme of the Saudi government, the aim of which is to attract wealthy investors, big businessmen and highly qualified foreign professionals to stay in the country for a long time. Under this permit, a person can live in Saudi Arabia without any local sponsor, buy property, start a business and keep his family together. However, for this the conditions of heavy investment and high income have to be fulfilled.

Foreigners used to go to Bahrain

Before this change, foreigners living in Saudi Arabia used to go to neighboring country Bahrain for alcohol. A huge crowd of Saudi citizens and foreigners was seen there during weekends. Some people also resorted to illegal methods or home-made liquor, which was risky both in terms of health and law. Experts believe that this decision is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ‘Vision 2030’ program. Under this plan, Saudi Arabia is moving towards modernizing itself socially and economically. In recent years, opening of cinema halls in the country, women getting permission to drive and organizing international music and entertainment programs are considered to be the links of this change.

Also read: Liquor is being sold indiscriminately in Saudi Arabia, you can buy any number of bottles only by fulfilling this condition.

Executions in Saudi Arabia: There has been a lot of increase in the death penalty in Saudi Arabia last year. Amnesty International has expressed concern in this regard on Monday (July 7, 2025). Workers of Amnesty International said that the death sentence in Saudi Arabia has increased. He has expressed concern over the increasing sentence of death in cases related to non-sensational drugs.

According to Amnesty, 345 people have been hanged by Saudi Arabia in the last year. This figure is the highest recorded by the organization in the last three decades. In the first half of this year, 180 people have been sentenced to death only from January 2025 to June 2025. In such a situation, it is now being speculated that this record can break once again.

Human rights organization expressed concern

According to the Human Rights Organization Reprus, about two-thirds of the people who have been hanged so far this year were convicted in cases of non-sensational drugs. Amnesty has also expressed concern about the death penalty in such cases.

Saudi Arabia has not yet clarified why he is using the death sentence in such a large number and that too especially in cases of non-sensational drugs. According to the news agency Associate Press, when Saudi officials were asked about the death sentence, they did not respond.

However, the number of death sentence in Saudi Arabia is completely reversed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2022, in which he said that Saudi now gives death sentence only in murder cases.

What statement did Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia make,

In an interview to ‘The Atlantic’, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia said, ‘As far as the death penalty is concerned, we have abolished it except for a category (drug), which is clearly written in the Quran. Therefore, we cannot do anything in it, no matter what. Because this is the direct education of the Quran.

Also read: Owaisi, Asim Munir and Netanyahu were angry at the matter of giving Nobel Prize to Trump, said – ‘Bhagada …’

Saudi Arabia Ban Visa for Pakistan: Saudi Arabia has imposed a temporary ban on giving visas to 14 countries of the world including Pakistan. On the matter, Pakistani woman YouTuber Nila Khan interacted with Awam on a visa related issue. He asked Awam that Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country. Despite this, he has stopped giving visas to Pakistan. On this, a Pakistani woman said that the people of Pakistan go to Saudi Arabia and begging. They do not go there and contribute in any way. Perhaps this is the reason why Saudi Arabia has refused to give a visa. However, despite this, this is not good news for us. This is a very shocking decision from Saudi Arabia. After a few days the journey of Haj is going to start. Before that, this decision will cause trouble for many people.

Another Pakistan person said on the issue of visa that people of the world burns Pakistan. Saudi Arabia also no longer wants to give visas to Pakistanis. We have a lot of talent. We go anywhere where we do amazing. Despite this, Pakistanis have been maligned everywhere. However, Nila cut the person’s words and said that if this is the case then why are we not being given a visa? He said that Saudi Arabia had caught thousands of beggars last year. Most of them were people of Pakistani origin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz4jcpi5ftc

Ban will continue till June
Saudi Arabia has temporarily banned the issuance of visas to 14 countries besides Pakistan, with the Haj pilgrimage close to the Haj pilgrimage. It includes India Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Yemen and Morocco. The ban on Umrah, trade and family travel visas will be effective till mid -June. This step was reportedly taken to prevent individuals from trying to perform Haj without proper registration. However, people with Umrah Visa can still enter Saudi Arabia by 13 April.

Saudi Arabia Bans Visa for 14 Countries: Saudi Arabia, which is called the stronghold of Islam, has put a temporary ban on a total of 14 countries of the world, including India-Pakistan. This temporary ban business and family visa of Saudi Arabia will also apply for Umrah Visa.

It is noteworthy that the Saudi government led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has imposed this ban to prevent people from other countries from joining Haj without registration. However, this temporary ban will continue on all countries till mid -June i.e. till the completion of Haj. After that the visa program will be again applied in general.

Umrah visa can be found by 13 April

Saudi Arabia officials said that foreigners for Umrah Visa can come only by 13th of this month i.e. 13 April. After April 13, Umrah Visa will be stopped.

After all, why did Crown Prince take such a decision,

In fact, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia has taken this decision of visa ban this year keeping in mind the death of thousands of people last year. Last year, more than 1,000 people died in a stampede during Haj. Among those who died, the number of unauthorized Haj pilgrims was high. In such a situation, the reason behind the decision of this temporary visa ban this year is to stop Haj pilgrims without registration.

Which countries included in Saudi Arabia’s visa ban,

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has changed the visa rules of 14 countries to maintain the system during Haj. Countries in which Saudi Arabia imposed visa ban is India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria, Iraq, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia and Yemen.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said that this temporary visa has been deployed to make the ban rules easier. This will improve the safety of passengers during Haj and the journey will be very comfortable.