People wear protective masks on a street in the Saudi capital Riyadh on July 5, 2020. Reuters
People wear protective masks on a street in the Saudi capital Riyadh on July 5, 2020. Reuters
People wear protective masks on a street in the Saudi capital Riyadh on July 5, 2020. Reuters
People wear protective masks on a street in the Saudi capital Riyadh on July 5, 2020. Reuters

Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia extends visas for expats and visitors

Free three-month extensions granted to those unable to leave or return to the kingdom

The National

July 05, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

The visas of foreign residents and visitors in Saudi Arabia who have been affected by the kingdom's coronavirus lockdown will be extended for three months free of charge, the interior ministry said on Sunday.

An order to this effect approved by King Salman includes the exit and return visas issued to foreign residents who were either unable to leave the kingdom or to return from abroad because of the closure of borders, as well as the residence permits of expats outside the country whose validity expired during the lockdown, a ministry official told the state Saudi Press Agency.

It also includes final exit visas of foreign residents and the visit visas of foreigners who were unable to leave the kingdom before they expired.

These exceptions could be revised as needed, the official told SPA.

The Saudi health ministry on Sunday announced plans to open its Takkad coronavirus testing centres in all regions in coming days as it reported 3,580 new cases, 1,980 recoveries and 58 more deaths from Covid-19.

The ministry said 357,000 people had visited the testing centres opened so far, while another 208,000 had availed of the Tetamman clinics set up for people with Covid-19 symptoms such as sore throat sore, fever, shortness of breath and cough.
In Kuwait, the health ministry reported 638 new cases of Covid-19 on Sunday, taking the country's total to 49,941.

A further 520 patients recovered from the virus, while three new deaths raised the total to 368.

_______________

Coronavirus around the world

Guests wearing protective face masks watch the fireworks display from the South Lawn of the White House as they celebrate US Independence Day. Reuters
Guests wearing protective face masks watch the fireworks display from the South Lawn of the White House as they celebrate US Independence Day. Reuters
People, wearing masks, flock to the souvenir market in the city centre, Tijuana, Mexico. Reuters
People, wearing masks, flock to the souvenir market in the city centre, Tijuana, Mexico. Reuters
A resident looks out of a window from a public housing tower in North Melbourne, Australia. Police are enforcing a lockdown at towers in Melbourne after Victoria recorded over 100 new coronavirus cases. EPA
A resident looks out of a window from a public housing tower in North Melbourne, Australia. Police are enforcing a lockdown at towers in Melbourne after Victoria recorded over 100 new coronavirus cases. EPA
People gather to watch fireworks on the banks of the East River to celebrate Independence Day in Queens, New York City. AFP
People gather to watch fireworks on the banks of the East River to celebrate Independence Day in Queens, New York City. AFP
A person reacts to Black Lives Matter protesters who arrived at a rally against restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus, in Phoenix, Arizona, US. Reuters
A person reacts to Black Lives Matter protesters who arrived at a rally against restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus, in Phoenix, Arizona, US. Reuters
Social distancing signs are seen on the floor at the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea. The signs read: "Safe Distance." AP Photo
Social distancing signs are seen on the floor at the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea. The signs read: "Safe Distance." AP Photo
Beachgoers walk along the boardwalk in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego, California. Many beaches have been shut down for the Fourth of July weekend across California. AFP
Beachgoers walk along the boardwalk in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego, California. Many beaches have been shut down for the Fourth of July weekend across California. AFP
Fireworks are seen lighting up the sky in New York City.AFP
Fireworks are seen lighting up the sky in New York City.AFP
A worker disinfects a ball before the start of a Mexican tournament football match between Guadalajara and Atlas in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico. AFP
A worker disinfects a ball before the start of a Mexican tournament football match between Guadalajara and Atlas in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico. AFP
Voters and members of Election Management Committee wearing protective face masks are seen at a voting station for the Tokyo Governor election, in Tokyo, Japan. Reuters
Voters and members of Election Management Committee wearing protective face masks are seen at a voting station for the Tokyo Governor election, in Tokyo, Japan. Reuters
Reveller socialise in the street during the evening in Soho, London, Britain. Pubs, restaurants, places of worship, hairdressers and other businesses have reopened their doors across the UK on 'Super Saturday' after more than three months of lockdown. EPA
Reveller socialise in the street during the evening in Soho, London, Britain. Pubs, restaurants, places of worship, hairdressers and other businesses have reopened their doors across the UK on 'Super Saturday' after more than three months of lockdown. EPA
A family considers candidate posters, including current governor Yuriko Koike, for the Tokyo Governor election in front of a voting station in Tokyo, Japan. Reuters
A family considers candidate posters, including current governor Yuriko Koike, for the Tokyo Governor election in front of a voting station in Tokyo, Japan. Reuters
The North Melbourne Public housing flats in Melbourne, Australia. Nine public housing estates have been placed into mandatory lockdown and two additional suburbs are under stay-at-home orders as authorities work to stop further Covid-19 outbreaks. Getty Images
The North Melbourne Public housing flats in Melbourne, Australia. Nine public housing estates have been placed into mandatory lockdown and two additional suburbs are under stay-at-home orders as authorities work to stop further Covid-19 outbreaks. Getty Images
Jessica Terreros places candles around flowers arranged in the form of a Catholic rosary at the cross-raising ceremony of her aunt Luz Maria Gonzalez, in the family home in Valle de Chalco, on the outskirts of Mexico City. Gonzalez, 56, who had long suffered from asthma, diabetes and hypertension, died two days after her 29-year-old son, who was hospitalised for breathing problems and a cough before dying of complications said to be related to pneumonia and undiagnosed diabetes. AP Photo
Jessica Terreros places candles around flowers arranged in the form of a Catholic rosary at the cross-raising ceremony of her aunt Luz Maria Gonzalez, in the family home in Valle de Chalco, on the outskirts of Mexico City. Gonzalez, 56, who had long suffered from asthma, diabetes and hypertension, died two days after her 29-year-old son, who was hospitalised for breathing problems and a cough before dying of complications said to be related to pneumonia and undiagnosed diabetes. AP Photo
A street seller wears a mask in Riobamba, Ecuador. EPA
A street seller wears a mask in Riobamba, Ecuador. EPA
Buddhist monks hold candles and flowers as they lead devotees around giant Buddha statue to mark Asalha Bucha Day in Thailand's southern province of Narathiwat amid Covid-19 restrictions. AFP
Buddhist monks hold candles and flowers as they lead devotees around giant Buddha statue to mark Asalha Bucha Day in Thailand's southern province of Narathiwat amid Covid-19 restrictions. AFP
Buddhist devotees offer food to monks during an event to mark Asalha Bucha Day in Thailand's southern province of Narathiwat. AFP
Buddhist devotees offer food to monks during an event to mark Asalha Bucha Day in Thailand's southern province of Narathiwat. AFP
A St. John Ambulance volunteer sprays disinfectant at a secondary school in Colombo, Sri Lanka. EPA
A St. John Ambulance volunteer sprays disinfectant at a secondary school in Colombo, Sri Lanka. EPA
Indians fish with nets during a fresh lockdown to combat the spread of the coronavirus, in the river Brahmaputra in Gauhati, India. AP Photo
Indians fish with nets during a fresh lockdown to combat the spread of the coronavirus, in the river Brahmaputra in Gauhati, India. AP Photo
A Pakistani health worker collects samples for testing of local residents in Karachi, Pakistan. EPA
A Pakistani health worker collects samples for testing of local residents in Karachi, Pakistan. EPA
People wearing protective masks visit a cattle market set up for the upcoming Muslim festival Eid al-Adha in Peshawar, Pakistan. AP Photo
People wearing protective masks visit a cattle market set up for the upcoming Muslim festival Eid al-Adha in Peshawar, Pakistan. AP Photo

_______________

Qatar's health ministry reported 616 new infections, 1,897 recoveries and five more deaths on Sunday, leaving the country with 7,387 active cases.
Oman said it was launching spot checks on businesses to ensure they comply with safety guidelines amid a "staggering" rise in cases.

Inspection teams "will visit offices suddenly and take immediate action against those who fail to comply", Health Minister Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saidi said.

Oman has declared more than 46,000 cases since the outbreak reached its shores in February.

Of the 1,072 new cases reported on Sunday, 75 per cent were Omanis. Ten new deaths raised the sultanate's Covid-19 toll to 213.

The health ministry said 27,917 of those who tested positive for the coronavirus have since recovered.

In Bahrain, 8,280 tests carried out on Saturday revealed 447 new cases, the health ministry said. they include 250 expatriate workers, 193 contacts of active cases, and four travel-related cases.

The number of people who have recovered from the virus rose by 641 to 23,959, it said.

Outside the Gulf, Iran reported its highest daily death toll from Covid-19 on Sunday amid a resurgence of the coronavirus in the worst-affected country in the Middle East.

Besides the 163 deaths since Saturday, 2,560 more people had tested positive for the coronavirus, raising the country's total confirmed infections to 240,438. There have been 201,330 recoveries, health ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said.

Iran's previous record of 162 deaths was announced last Monday. Case numbers and deaths have been rising steadily in recent weeks after Iran eased its coronavirus restrictions in mid-April.

President Hassan Rouhani warned on Saturday that Iranians who do not wear masks will be denied state services and workplaces that fail to comply with health protocols will be shut for a week.

In Morocco, which eased coronavirus lockdown measures only on June 25, an outbreak at a fish canning factory in the southern port city of Safi contributed to the kingdom's highest daily rise in cases since early March.

The city was quarantined overnight and its around 300,000 inhabitants placed under a total lockdown, local media reported on Sunday.

The health ministry said the 698 new infections raised Morocco's total to 14,132 cases and 234 deaths.

On Women's Day
Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

Abu Dhabi Card

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 1,400m

National selection: AF Mohanak

5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 90,000 1,400m

National selection: Jayide Al Boraq

6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 100,000 1,400m

National selection: Rocket Power

6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Listed (PA) Dh 180,000 1,600m

National selection: Ihtesham

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 1,600m

National selection: Noof KB

7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 2.200m

National selection: EL Faust

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands

The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands

50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias

Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura

Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe

United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal

SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos

Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt

Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho

Singles match John Cena v Triple H

Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v tba

Results

57kg quarter-finals

Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Hamed Al Matari (YEM) by points 3-0.

60kg quarter-finals

Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) RSC round 2.

63.5kg quarter-finals

Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Shamlan A Othman (KUW) by points 3-0.

67kg quarter-finals

Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Ahmad Ondash (LBN) by points 2-1.

71kg quarter-finals

Ahmad Bahman (UAE) defeated Lalthasanga Lelhchhun (IND) by points 3-0.

Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Seyed Kaveh Safakhaneh (IRI) by points 3-0.

81kg quarter-finals

Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Ahmad Hilal (PLE) by points 3-0

On Women's Day
A State of Passion

Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi

Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah

Rating: 4/5

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPurpl%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKarl%20Naim%2C%20Wissam%20Ghorra%2C%20Jean-Marie%20Khoueir%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHub71%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi%20and%20Beirut%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2021%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%242%20million%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
  • Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
  • Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000 
  • Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000 
  • Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000 
  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
  • Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
  • Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Ain Issa camp:
  • Established in 2016
  • Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
  • Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
  • Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
  • 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
  • NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
  • One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
Singham Again

Director: Rohit Shetty

Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone

Rating: 3/5

Scores

Day 2

New Zealand 153 & 56-1
Pakistan 227

New Zealand trail by 18 runs with nine wickets remaining

Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha

Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar

Director: Neeraj Pandey

Rating: 2.5/5

Moonfall

Director: Rolan Emmerich

Stars: Patrick Wilson, Halle Berry

Rating: 3/5

'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

North Pole stats

Distance covered: 160km

Temperature: -40°C

Weight of equipment: 45kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 0

Terrain: Ice rock

South Pole stats

Distance covered: 130km

Temperature: -50°C

Weight of equipment: 50kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300

Terrain: Flat ice
 

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
The biog

Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.

It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.

They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.

Crazy Rich Asians

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan

Four stars

'Avengers: Infinity War'
Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars

Islamic%20Architecture%3A%20A%20World%20History
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eric%20Broug%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Thames%20%26amp%3B%20Hudson%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20336%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20September%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinFlx%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202021%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amr%20Yussif%20(co-founder%20and%20CEO)%2C%20Mattieu%20Capelle%20(co-founder%20and%20CTO)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%20in%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.5m%20pre-seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Venture%20capital%20-%20Y%20Combinator%2C%20500%20Global%2C%20Dubai%20Future%20District%20Fund%2C%20Fox%20Ventures%2C%20Vector%20Fintech.%20Also%20a%20number%20of%20angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ICC Awards for 2021

MEN

Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)

T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)

ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)

Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)

WOMEN

Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)

ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)

T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E680hp%20at%206%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E800Nm%20at%202%2C750-6%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERear-mounted%20eight-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E13.6L%2F100km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Orderbook%20open%3B%20deliveries%20start%20end%20of%20year%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh970%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
HOW TO WATCH

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:

Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE

Game is on BeIN Sports

Coronavirus