In news that we suspected (read here) but were very interested to see crop up over the last 24 hours there seems to have been a groundbreaking shift that signals Saudi Arabia’s steady pivot toward global tourism. Saudi Arabia reportedly plans to lift the alcohol ban for tourism, but only within select, tightly controlled tourist areas.

Edit: We have covered here that the Kingdom is rumoured to be introducing alcohol in a controlled way. Whilst Riyadh Air isn't covered specifically, could this be the future? We recently covered the launch of Riyadh Air’s aircraft interiors as the airline seeks to take on the likes of Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar for dominance within the Middle East. Whilst more competition is a good thing for passengers, resulting in lower fares, and upgrading of services as airlines fight

The skies are about to welcome a new contender in luxury air travel: Riyadh Air. As Saudi Arabia’s newest carrier gears up for its first...