Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
September, the month of my visit, is not an ideal time to go wine walking in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The average daily maximum temperature was in the mid-40s!
But in mid-winter, Riyadh would be ideal. Temperatures are only in the low 20s.
Wine walking in Saudi? In fact, Saudi Arabia grows a vast array of fruits and vegetables, not only grapes. Things like apples, bananas, beans, cauliflower, dates, garlic, grapefruit, lemons, onions, potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes, and watermelons.
During my stay in Riyadh, I did taste some local grapes (pink and red) which were delicious (see photo).
While most of Saudi is in fact desertic, the southwest of the country, in the mountains of ‘Asir, close to the Yemen border, has sufficient rainfall sufficient to support regular crops.
Everyone knows that alcohol consumption is prohibited in Saudi Arabia. But anyone (including Saudis) can drink alcohol-free wine. If you only have a short stay, this could tide you over (see photos).
In tomorrow’s Saudi Arabia, alcohol may have a future. Indeed, under the leadership of Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MBS), Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Saudi Arabia is opening up at lightning speed, shedding its formerly closed society.
Saudi Arabia now welcomes international tourists, women visitors do not have to wear a hijab, local women are allowed to drive (car accidents are up as a result!), many international sporting and political events are being hosted, Saudi is sponsoring overseas events, cinemas are being opened, and the government is facilitating foreign investment, and technological innovation.
Looking ahead, the government has adopted “the Saudi Vision 2030”, a long-term strategy aimed at diversifying the country’s economy and making it economically diverse and improving the quality of life of Saudi citizens.
Why is MBS driving this opening up of Saudi Arabia?
While Saudi leaders have traditionally been old men, MBS is only 38, which likely contributes to his modern approach.
Some two-thirds of the local population are under the age of 30 and are reportedly an important influence on modernisation. They now weigh more heavily on domestic politics than strict fundamentalist “Wahhabism”.
The Internet and modern technologies are another force for modernisation — as is the fact that much of the Saudi elite have studied overseas. Over the medium term, Saudi needs to diversify its economy away from extraction of oil.
And China and the Gulf States have proven that it is possible to maintain social control — and thus regime stability — while opening the economy.
Hold on! The opening of Saudi Arabia is still very much work-in-progress. And Saudi will always remain a controlled society, even if its economy opens more. But what is happening could be historic in its impact. After all, when China started opening up in the 1970s, no-one imagined that it would become a world leader.
What does this have to do with wine walking? Following the lead of some other Muslim countries, there is speculation that the Saudi government could authorise the consumption of alcohol by foreigners in international hotels!
Hold your breath!