Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the UK said that there is still “plenty of fun” for those who visit the kingdom during the 2034 World Cup to enjoy even without the presence of alcohol.
Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud also told UK media firm LBC that visitors must respect Saudi culture and that alcohol is not currently available in the kingdom.
“At the moment, we don’t allow alcohol,” Prince Khalid said in an interview with LBC. “Plenty of fun can be had without alcohol—it’s not 100 per cent necessary and if you want to drink after you leave, you’re welcome to, but at the moment we don’t have alcohol.”
“Rather like our weather, it’s a dry country,” Prince Khalid added.
Saudi Arabia welcomes all for FIFA World Cup 2034
The announcement follows Saudi Arabia’s confirmation as the 2034 World Cup hosts through FIFA’s acclamation process, where member associations supported the bid through a single voting option.
The alcohol policy mirrors issues faced during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where authorities reversed their decision to sell alcohol in stadiums just two days before the opening match. Qatar ultimately permitted alcohol sales in hotels and designated fan zones.
“Everyone has their own culture. We’re happy to accommodate people within the boundaries of our culture but we don’t want to change our culture for someone else,” Prince Khalid said.
Follow us on
