Saudi Arabia’s first women’s football club gets backing from hospital group

Almana Group of Hospitals collaborates with Eastern Flames Football Club to support women’s sport. (Supplied)
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Updated 11 October 2023
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Saudi Arabia’s first women’s football club gets backing from hospital group

  • Almana Group supports Eastern Flames FC for upcoming league
  • Aim is to empower women in sports, says Saud Mansour Almana

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s first women’s football club Eastern Flames FC, also known as Shua’lat Al-Sharqia FC, has received backing from Almana Group of Hospitals, a leading family health care provider in the Eastern Province.

“This collaboration marks a significant step forward in promoting women’s sport and breaking societal barriers in the Kingdom,” said the Almana Group in a statement on Wednesday.

Eastern Flames FC, based in Dammam, has been at the forefront of advancing women’s football in Saudi Arabia since its establishment in 2006.

Almana will provide medical services to the team during their matches in the upcoming Saudi Women’s Premier League 2023/2024, which begins on Oct. 13.

Saud Mansour Almana, chief procurement officer of Almana, said: “We are proud to be partnering with Eastern Flames FC. As a leading healthcare provider, we believe in supporting our community and empowering women in sports. This collaboration allows us to contribute to the growth of women’s football in the Eastern Province and showcase our commitment to excellence in healthcare.”

Maram Albutairi, chair and CEO of Eastern Flames FC, said: “We are thrilled to have Almana Group of Hospitals as our partner. Their expertise in healthcare and commitment to quality align perfectly with the values of our club. This collaboration not only highlights our shared dedication to women’s sports and the Eastern Province community but is also a significant milestone for women’s football in Saudi Arabia.”


Saudi Arabia announces new financial support to the Yemeni government

Updated 16 January 2026
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Saudi Arabia announces new financial support to the Yemeni government

RIYADH: Saudi Ambassador to Yemen and Supervisor of the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen Mohammed Al-Jaber announced that the Kingdom, under the directives of its leadership, has provided new support to the Yemeni government's budget, aimed at paying the salaries of state employees in all sectors.

In a post on X, Al-Jaber stated that this support complements a package of development projects and initiatives, amounting to SR1.9 billion, announced on Wednesday. The package includes provision of necessary petroleum derivatives to operate power plants, which will contribute to improving the living standards of people in Yemen and alleviating daily burdens on them.

Al-Jaber’s post emphasized, in particular, that all salaries of military and security forces linked to the the higher military committee linked to the Saudi led Coalition will be paid as of Sunday. 

 

The post is likely relate to Several Media reports which have suggested that disgraced former Southern Transitional Council (STC) chief Aidaroos Al Zubaidi — who has now fled Yemen — was taking advantage of military personnel and withholding salaries as means of pressure. Al-Zubaidi is wanted by the Yemeni government for acts of high treason and corruption. 

The ambassador emphasized that these steps come within the framework of supporting the Yemeni government's efforts to implement the economic reform program, which aims to achieve financial and economic stability and enhance the state's ability to meet its basic obligations.