London/Abu Dhabi
CNN
—
Dubai has scrapped a 30% tax on alcohol and can not cost vacationers or expats for permits to purchase alcoholic drinks because the emirate tries to draw extra overseas employees and guests within the face of rising regional competitors.
Two main retailers within the metropolis, situated within the United Arab Emirates (UAE), mentioned they had slashed their costs to replicate the tax reduce.
“Shopping for your favourite drinks is now simpler and cheaper than ever,” Maritime and Mercantile Worldwide (MMI) introduced on its Instagram account on Sunday. MMI, one in all Dubai’s greatest alcohol retailers and a subsidiary of the state-owned Emirates group, has 21 shops throughout the town, in accordance with its web site.
African + Japanese, one other drinks retailer, mentioned on its Instagram web page on Sunday that it had eliminated the tax and that it was now providing private liquor licenses at zero price.
Muslims are prohibited from buying licenses for buy of alcohol in Dubai.
CNN has contacted the Dubai authorities media workplace for remark.
The modifications might be in place for one 12 months as a part of a trial interval, Reuters reported, citing home media sources.
Dealing with rising competitors from international locations within the area, a number of UAE cities have shifted towards globally enticing insurance policies over the previous years, together with the legalization of cohabitation by single {couples}, and permitting the sale of alcohol in the course of the holy month of Ramadan, which was beforehand banned throughout the nation.
Most lately, a Monday to Friday work week was launched to synchronize with international enterprise, after years of a Sunday to Thursday schedule.
The sale of alcohol within the UAE is already extra liberalized in comparison with neighboring Gulf international locations. Virtually 90% of its inhabitants is made up of foreigners.
Worldwide guests spent greater than $29 billion in Dubai in 2022, probably the most of anyplace on the planet, in accordance with knowledge from the World Journey and Tourism Council.
However the metropolis faces growing competitors from its neighbor, Saudi Arabia, which is investing closely in its personal tourism sector because it diversifies its economic system away from oil.
Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman is making an attempt to rebrand the dominion’s picture away from a conservative Muslim nation to draw international companies, expertise and tourism. Components of its Pink Sea International resort, which features a assortment of mega-hotels, are resulting from open this 12 months.