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Tennis in Saudi?
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melysnl



Joined: 31 Oct 2011
Posts: 15
PostPosted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 1:19 pm    Post subject: Tennis in Saudi? Reply with quote
Quick question. I'm a fit, active female in my 30's and thinking about teaching in Saudi for a year or two. I know I'll have to give up all sorts of western rights and freedom, but will I have to give up playing tennis too?
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
PostPosted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 4:12 pm    Post subject: Re: Tennis in Saudi? Reply with quote
melysnl wrote:
I know I'll have to give up all sorts of western rights and freedom, but will I have to give up playing tennis too?

Probably not. You just need to find out where you can play.

There are several good blogs and forums dedicated to expat work, life, and leisure in the Kingdom. Do an Internet search on expat forum saudi. Blueabaya, AmericanBedu, and expatwomen are especially useful sites for women relocating to Saudi Arabia.
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Wilsonthefarmer



Joined: 13 Nov 2012
Posts: 152
Location: Riding my black horse
PostPosted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 6:49 pm    Post subject: Re: Tennis in Saudi? Reply with quote
melysnl wrote:
I know I'll have to give up all sorts of western rights and freedom, but will I have to give up playing tennis too?

I do not know what you mean by "western rights"?

Well, mely, the grand mufti of the Magic Kingdom issued a fatwa saying that women and girls can participate in sport or exercise as long as they do not mix with men or boys. So, you do not need to give up playing tennis as far as you follow the rules of the fatwa and the "Magic Kingdom's rights".

Also, the Magic Kingdom to allow girls to play sport at private schools...

"Saudi Arabian girls will be allowed to play sport in private schools for the first time in the latest in a series of incremental changes aimed at slowly increasing women's rights in the ultraconservative kingdom."

"Sport for women in Saudi Arabia has largely been a pastime of elites who can afford expensive health club memberships. They are often attached to hospitals, since women's gyms were closed in 2010 on grounds they were unlicensed."

"Women's sport remains nearly an underground activity in the kingdom. Only the largest female university � Princess Nora Bint Abdul Rahman Unviersity � has a swimming pool, tennis court and exercise area for its students. No other university in Saudi Arabia has sport facilities for its female students and staff."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/05/saudi-arabia-allows-women-sport
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trapezius



Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 1670
Location: Land of Culture of Death & Destruction
PostPosted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 8:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
If you end up in a compound, you can play it all day every day!

(most compounds have tennis courts)
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CANDLES



Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 605
Location: Wandering aimlessly.....
PostPosted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 9:25 pm    Post subject: ??? Reply with quote
You wish!..... Maybe American compounds or the very big Really expensive compounds have this option. Most female only compounds have a pool and a gym. Of course if you are going to be in DQ area, then that's a different ballgame. DQ- Diplomatic Quarters...where you can walk around in shorts, enjoy mixed swimming, play tennis, etc.

And as for giving up 'Westerness', you'd be surprised at how much 'Westerness' goes on in these compounds! Come Saturday morning it's usually a blur until lunch time.... (good ole' w/e)....

Enjoy...
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scot47



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
PostPosted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 4:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The right to starve and sleep under bridges ? Tennis is played widely in KSA. At KFUPM there were several tennis courts and I think they were free. Ads others have said here many compounds have courts. Avoid the compounds frequented by trhe bearded pious ones !
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teachr11



Joined: 23 Aug 2012
Posts: 39
PostPosted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 6:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
There's a tennis court at Al Manahil centre in the DQ that you can book.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Al-Manahil-Center/107347829358668

They also offer lessons. Check it out.
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johnslat



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
PostPosted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 7:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Can it be assumed that the OP will be in Riyadh, where the DQ is? It might be helpful if the OP (providing it's known) could post where she will be in Saudi.

Regards,
John
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Wilsonthefarmer