Introducing Saudi Arabia’s first nightclub where booze is banned and costs £1,900 to enter! Revelers dance the night away at Beast House, which is open to members only

Saudi Arabia has welcomed its first permanent nightclub, but you’ll need £1,900 to join annually.

Located in Riyadh’s artsy Jax District, a vibrant hub for artists and creatives, Beast House is being hailed by excited partygoers as the start of ‘a new life’.

While DJs, chic interiors and the opportunity to socialize are all present at the music venue, alcohol remains prohibited. Instead, mocktails will be served at the bar and bouncers will be on site to enforce alcohol ban rules, according to The times.

Alcohol has been banned in the conservative Islamic kingdom since 1952 after one of King Abdulaziz’s sons drunkenly shot and killed a British diplomat.

But several rules have changed in Saudi Arabia in recent years since the accession of King Salman and his assertive son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

In 2018, women were given the right to drive. Women no longer have to wear the fully enveloping black abaya. Cinemas and other entertainment centers opened – and now a permanent nightclub is available.

Clear limits on speech and any political activity still exist in the tightly governed kingdom. But in the field of art, Saudi Arabia is slowly opening up.

Saudi DJ Tarek anTabi told the publication that it “means the world to me” to finally be able to perform in his country after years of showcasing his musical skills abroad instead.

Another Beast House fan named Nouf admitted that she had been tempted to live elsewhere before changes were made in Saudi Arabia.

‘It is a new life, we are born again. Especially as women,” said Nouf, who reportedly arrived at the club with her friend.

However, the price for this ‘new life’ would be a whopping £1,900 for the lowest type of annual membership, rising to around £2,800 for the highest type.

“It’s pricey,” admitted someone from the club – which opened its doors for the first time earlier this year. ‘Leisure is expensive.’

The multi-level club reportedly features studio spaces, dining areas and production areas with recording booths.

Beast House (presumably pictured in the background of this photo), found in Riyadh’s artistic Jax District, a vibrant hub for artists and creatives, has been hailed by excited partygoers as the start of ‘a new life’

Although DJs, chic interiors and the opportunity to socialize are all present at the music venue (pictured), alcohol remains prohibited. Instead, mocktails are served at the bar and bouncers are on site to enforce the no-alcohol rules

The multi-level club (pictured) reportedly features studio spaces, dining areas and production areas with recording booths

Revelers party the night away at Beast House in Riyadh. The club opened earlier this year

Ramadan Alharatani, CEO of MDLBEAST, the company behind the location, said Arabic news: ‘We see Beast House becoming a cornerstone of Riyadh’s music scene, a place where creativity is nurtured and talents from the local and international scene can grow.

‘Our vision is to revolutionize the way music is experienced in the region by fostering connections in the creative community through the power of music.

‘We’ve spread the word and given people insight into what membership clubs really entail. We’ve rolled out a few sneak-peek events to introduce them to the experience, and we’re connecting with creative pioneers to grow the right community.”

MDLBEAST is reportedly backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also his country’s prime minister.

The Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund has been at the center of a number of high-profile sports takeovers, such as the takeover of Newcastle United in November 2021 and the launch of the lucrative and controversial LIV Golf series the following year – which later merged with PGA Tour and DP World Tour.

Ramadan Alharatani, CEO of MDLBEAST, the company behind the venue, told Arab News: “We see Beast House (pictured) becoming a cornerstone of Riyadh’s music scene, a place where creativity is nurtured and talents from the local and international scene can to grow’

MDLBEAST is backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also his country’s Prime Minister. The photo shows the interior of the location

Revelers enjoy a night out at the Beast House in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s moves in the industry are seen by some as an attempt to burnish the country’s reputation and shift attention away from its human rights abuses.

The country has pursued a sports-focused growth agenda over the past five years, as Saudi Arabia itself has played host to a wealth of events, from boxing matches to football tournaments.

Saudi officials have long denied motives other than financial ones behind their active moves in the sports world, instead stating that sports are a cornerstone of the ‘Vision 2030’ strategy.

The program was launched in 2016 in an effort to diversify the Saudi economy from dependence on oil exports.