Saudi Arabia begins selling alcohol to non-Muslim residents — but only if they're rich enough

Saudi Arabia is loosening its staunch restrictions on alcohol sales for non-Muslim foreign residents, but only if they earn enough money to qualify.

Many practicing Muslims, particularly those in sects that lean more conservatively, abstain from consuming alcohol and other drugs to follow the tenets laid out in the Quran.

Since Islam is the official state religion in Saudi Arabia, the Quran’s principles have shaped its laws and social guardrails, though many like a countrywide ban on women driving have been reversed in recent years.

Now, non-Muslim foreign residents will be able to purchase alcohol in Saudi Arabia — but only if they make more than 50,000 riyals, or roughly $13,300, per month, sources familiar with the shift told Bloomberg .

The average monthly salary in Saudi Arabi