Saudi Arabia will allow foreigners to leave the kingdom on outbound flights, despite extending its suspension of international flights and the closure of its borders for an additional week.
The kingdom's aviation authority is allowing some airlines to resume outbound charter flights for non-citizens stranded in the country, said the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation.
Flights will resume to countries that are not battling the new variant of Covid-19. Permission for such flights is given on the understanding that all crew members arriving in the kingdom do not leave the aircraft. Crew must also not have any contact with ground staff at airports in Saudi Arabia.
The National has approached Emirates, Etihad and flydubai for more information on flights to the UAE from Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia plans to continuously assess the situation and the suspension of travel could be further extended if necessary, reports the state-run Saudi Press Agency. Flights for foreigners who want to leave the country and cargo are excluded from the recent extension of the flight ban.
Which airlines are flying out of Saudi Arabia?
Pakistan International Airlines
Non-Saudis will be allowed to leave the kingdom on flights to Pakistan. According to a release from Pakistan International Airlines, flights from Saudi Arabia was due to resume on Monday, December 28. Only Pakistani citizens in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to travel on the flights.
Saudia
The national airline of Saudi Arabia is allowing non-Saudi travellers to fly abroad, depending on the availability of flights, it said on its Twitter account. Dubai International Airport's arrival board lists Saudi Arabian Airlines flights operating to the emirate from Riyadh and Jeddah as of Monday, December 28.
Flynas
Flynas said on Twitter that it would be making an announcement shortly on the resumption of international flights for travellers looking to leave Saudi Arabia. Flights were scheduled to land in Dubai International Airport from Riyadh and Jeddah on Monday, December 28.
Emirates
Emirates had suspended all flights to and from Saudi Arabia from December 21 until December 27. The National has emailed the airline for an update on flights from Saudi for outbound travellers. Flights to Dubai from Jeddah and Riyadh are available to book on the airline's website from December 28.
flydubai
Dubai's low-cost airline has reinstated flights from the kingdom to Dubai.
"Flydubai flights from Dammam International Airport and Riyadh International Airport will be reinstated from Tuesday, December 29," a spokesman for the airline said.
"Restrictions remain in place and passengers are advised to regularly check the IATA Travel Centre website ahead of their flights."
The airline reminded travellers that only non-Saudi passengers are allowed on flights to Dubai.
Etihad
Etihad suspended flights to and from the kingdom on December 21, stating that flights would be banned "until further notice". An update on flights to Abu Dhabi from Saudi Arabia is expected from the national airline of the UAE soon. Currently, flights from Saudi Arabia to the UAE capital are available to book from Wednesday, December 30, on the airline's website.
Air India
Air India announced it was resuming some outbound flights from Saudi Arabia to India from Monday, December 28. The airline made the announcement on its Twitter page.
Air Arabia
The National has approached Air Arabia for an update on suspended flights from Saudi Arabia. Flights from Riyadh to Sharjah are currently available to book on the low-cost airline's website from Tuesday, December 29.
Saudi Arabia suspended all international flights last week, in an attempt to control the spread of a new strain of Covid-19. The move followed a decision in the UK to impose a wide-reaching lockdown.
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ABU DHABI CARD
5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions; Dh90,000; 2,200m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap; Dh70,000; 1,400m
6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden; Dh80,000; 1,600m
6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige; Dh100,000; 1,600m
7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige; Dh125,000; 1,600m
8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1; Dh5,000,000; 1,600m
UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)
Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)
Saturday
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Sunday
Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)
Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)
Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)
Scores:
Day 4
England 290 & 346
Sri Lanka 336 & 226-7 (target 301)
Sri Lanka require another 75 runs with three wickets remaining
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Brief scores:
Manchester City 2
Gundogan 27', De Bruyne 85'
Crystal Palace 3
Schlupp 33', Townsend 35', Milivojevic 51' (pen)
Man of the Match: Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace)
Teams
India (playing XI): Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami
South Africa (squad): Faf du Plessis (c), Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
Gifts exchanged
- King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla - Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
- Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
RESULT
Manchester United 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Man United: Sanchez (24' ), Herrera (62')
Spurs: Alli (11')
