Saudi Arabia is set to open its first nightclub today where dancing between boys and girls is allowed but no booze is served in a move that has sparked fury among some locals.
The bar, named WHITE and located in the port city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia’s Tihamah region, has been advertised as ‘halal’ and is meant to serve as a lounge with a dance floor for boys and girls over the age of 18 after it opens today (THUR).
Video Credit: AsiaWire
This footage shared online shows what the venue looks like inside.
According to local media, the mixed-gender venue is licensed and reportedly meets the strict Saudi sharia law, a claim which is proving controversial and has been met with deep suspicion in The Kingdom.
Wahhabi Islam, the branch of Islam which stems from Saudi Arabia, tends to be stricter than some other interpretations, hence the controversy.
The controversial news was met with mixed reactions by both the excited youth and rebuking hardliners, who branded the business as ‘haram’ (‘forbidden’ in Arabic) and ‘debaucherous.’
One angry netizen called ‘drassagheer’ remarked: “Are we supposed to throw away our virtues and bring down the holy mosque?”
While ‘A7nBguMMHzDiTM5’ said: “May Allah protect the prophet’s shrine from desecration!”
‘NeveenGamal7’ said: “We can see that the country of the two holy mosques is taking us to hell!”
And ‘asseri25’ said: “Empty heads and empty hearts! What next? Nudity?”
But one approving netizen called cheered the announcement, saying, “Finally, we’re catching up with the world!”
While ‘Adel_Aldresy’ said: “If it’s halal, it’s good to dance. If it’s haram, it’s like going to a zumba class.”
The bar, which is said to be an offshoot of a bar with branches in Dubai and Beirut, is set to open today with American singer Ne-Yo to perform at its launch.
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Story By: Eman El-Sherbiny, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
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