Saudis flocked to hairdressers, barbers and shops on Sunday as coronavirus lockdown measures were lifted across the kingdom.
Workers returned as offices, mosques, cafes, restaurants, movie theatres and gyms reopened after more than three months of measures to curb the spread of the virus, including nightly lockdowns.
Roads in Jeddah that had been eerily quiet for months sprang to life from 6am, with people venturing out of their homes to shop.
Cafes and restaurants in the city's popular Tahlia Street were full to capacity, with tables set farther apart than normal but often not the full mandated 1.5 metres.
Waiters wore masks and gloves, offering hand sanitiser to customers and checking temperatures.
Gyms and health clubs are increasing operations, welcoming fitness enthusiasts while touting how they have implemented local and government safety protocols.
Hundreds of people flocked to neighbourhood barber shops to trim their long locks or have a shave after 74 days of restrictions.
"The rush of customers was too much on the first day of reopening the shop on early Sunday," Turkish hairstylist Hussain Jovalan told The National at his busy salon in the city's Salama district.
“We sent many of them away and told others to try their luck in another salon or make an appointment for another day, rather than waiting for their turn here.”
Mr Jovalan said barbers had missed their busiest periods of Ramadan and Eid, so they were glad customers were returning.
Tough restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus came into force in March, including 24-hour curfews in most towns and cities.
Citizens and residents in all parts of the kingdom expressed relief but in careful and cautious ways.
In Makkah, Abdullah Ajhoori, owner of popular food truck Luqma Basha, said his and other businesses were working hard to ensure hygiene requirements were met.
"Thank God, I feel happy. Past times were difficult as opposed to now," he told The National from his truck, parked in front of Al Hijaz Mall in Al Nuzhah.
“I hope caution will be practised in the next stage. The truck is sterilised periodically or every hour while adhering to the necessary measures of hygiene.”
Makkah was the only Saudi province to be kept under 24-hour lockdown throughout Ramadan, and has remained under a nightly lockdown since Eid, from 3pm to 6am.
"Maintain caution now that the ban has been lifted in all cities in Saudi, in accordance with the necessary health requirements. Most importantly wearing a face mask - medical or a cloth mask - leaving a safe distance of no less than two metres and maintaining social distancing and hand washing," said Makkah Health Ministry spokesman, Hamad Feehan.
"This return was based on several studies by the authorities concerning the return to normal life. We return to normal life but we return with caution."
Kamal Abdulqader, a renowned Saudi writer, urged the public to do their part.
“People need to take a step back and look at the position we’re in, and to recognise that the release from lockdown comes with responsibilities for all of us in the way that we choose to behave,” Abdulqader said.
“The virus is still threatening our lives. Therefore, I hope people will comply with the government's guidance or we could face another lockdown.”
Up to 75 per cent of the kingdom’s public sector employees were eligible to return to their offices from Sunday, but many are still concerned about the health implications and getting used to a corporate office culture again after the lockdown.
“Still, worries over hygiene will continue to top concerns as employees return to the workplace,” said Bandar Al Musalem, a government employee in Riyadh.
“Luckily, the government minimised the number of staff.”
Saudi Arabia announced 3,379 new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday, taking the total number of cases to 157,612.
More than 1,200 people have died from the disease in the kingdom.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
If you go
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates.
The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season
More coverage from the Future Forum
More on animal trafficking
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Iraq negotiating over Iran sanctions impact
- US sanctions on Iran’s energy industry and exports took effect on Monday, November 5.
- Washington issued formal waivers to eight buyers of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue limited imports. Iraq did not receive a waiver.
- Iraq’s government is cooperating with the US to contain Iranian influence in the country, and increased Iraqi oil production is helping to make up for Iranian crude that sanctions are blocking from markets, US officials say.
- Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumped last month at a record 4.78 million barrels a day, former Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said on Oct. 20. Iraq exported 3.83 million barrels a day last month, according to tanker tracking and data from port agents.
- Iraq has been working to restore production at its northern Kirkuk oil field. Kirkuk could add 200,000 barrels a day of oil to Iraq’s total output, Hook said.
- The country stopped trucking Kirkuk oil to Iran about three weeks ago, in line with U.S. sanctions, according to four people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because they aren’t allowed to speak to media.
- Oil exports from Iran, OPEC’s third-largest supplier, have slumped since President Donald Trump announced in May that he’d reimpose sanctions. Iran shipped about 1.76 million barrels a day in October out of 3.42 million in total production, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
- Benchmark Brent crude fell 47 cents to $72.70 a barrel in London trading at 7:26 a.m. local time. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was 25 cents lower at $62.85 a barrel in New York. WTI held near the lowest level in seven months as concerns of a tightening market eased after the U.S. granted its waivers to buyers of Iranian crude.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Zayed Sustainability Prize
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Abandon
Sangeeta Bandyopadhyay
Translated by Arunava Sinha
Tilted Axis Press
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
Everything Now
Arcade Fire
(Columbia Records)
ACC 2019: The winners in full
Best Actress Maha Alemi, Sofia
Best Actor Mohamed Dhrif, Weldi
Best Screenplay Meryem Benm’Barek, Sofia
Best Documentary Of Fathers and Sons by Talal Derki
Best Film Yomeddine by Abu Bakr Shawky
Best Director Nadine Labaki, Capernaum
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The years Ramadan fell in May
