A man and two children enter the Prince Faisal bin Fahad stadium in Riyadh. SPA
A man and two children enter the Prince Faisal bin Fahad stadium in Riyadh. SPA
A man and two children enter the Prince Faisal bin Fahad stadium in Riyadh. SPA
A man and two children enter the Prince Faisal bin Fahad stadium in Riyadh. SPA

Saudi sport stadiums open to vaccinated fans


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Saudi Arabia on Wednesday opened its sports stadiums for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak last year, to fans who have been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Football fans were delighted to watch their favourite teams Al Hilal and Al Ahli play at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh on Wednesday.

"I am so excited to be back," Anas Ahmad, a Saudi football fan in Jeddah, told The National.

"I hope we can fill up stadiums soon. Tonight was the first step towards going back to normal. I feel positive as it gives me hope for the future."

Mr Ahmad said fans were asked to arrive early, line up while keeping distance from each other, wear masks and use the Tawakkalna mobile phone app to prove they had been vaccinated.

Tawakkalna was launched by Saudi authorities last year to help track coronavirus cases in the kingdom.

Footballers enjoyed playing in front of fans, running to the stands to celebrate goals in the Saudi Professional League game.

Saudi female officers and health workers were also at the match.

In March, the kingdom said stadiums would have a capacity of 40 per cent for members of the public who were vaccinated.

People could be admitted if they were inoculated with one or two doses, or had contracted the virus in the past six months.

Children over 7 and under 18 are also allowed to watch sports games if they did not show up as "infected" on the app.

From August, Saudi Arabia will make Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for those who want to attend "any social, economic, commercial, cultural, scientific, entertainment or sports event", the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

More on coronavirus

Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species

Camelpox

Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.

Falconpox

Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.

Houbarapox

Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Why the Tourist Club?

Originally, The Club (which many people chose to call the “British Club”) was the only place where one could use the beach with changing rooms and a shower, and get refreshments.

In the early 1970s, the Government of Abu Dhabi wanted to give more people a place to get together on the beach, with some facilities for children. The place chosen was where the annual boat race was held, which Sheikh Zayed always attended and which brought crowds of locals and expatriates to the stretch of beach to the left of Le Méridien and the Marina.

It started with a round two-storey building, erected in about two weeks by Orient Contracting for Sheikh Zayed to use at one these races. Soon many facilities were planned and built, and members were invited to join.

Why it was called “Nadi Al Siyahi” is beyond me. But it is likely that one wanted to convey the idea that this was open to all comers. Because there was no danger of encountering alcohol on the premises, unlike at The Club, it was a place in particular for the many Arab expatriate civil servants to join. Initially the fees were very low and membership was offered free to many people, too.

Eventually there was a skating rink, bowling and many other amusements.

Frauke Heard-Bey is a historian and has lived in Abu Dhabi since 1968.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Director: Scott Cooper

Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong

Rating: 4/5

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid

When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

Jordan cabinet changes

In

  • Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
  • Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
  • Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
  • Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
  • Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
  • Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
  • Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
  • Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
  • Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth

Out

  • Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
  • Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
  • Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
  • Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
  • Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
  • Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
  • Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
  • Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
  • Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
  • Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
  • Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
  • Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
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