DAMMAM, 27 November 2003 — Eastern Province Governor Prince Muhammad ibn Fahd joined Eid celebrations on the Alkhobar Corniche to watch spectacular fireworks organized by the Tourism Department in coordination with municipality and the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Thousands of people gathered at the Corniche to watch the Eid fireworks, which will continue for three days at the same venue. The traffic department had blocked many streets to ease the traffic on Corniche street, and the prince arrived amid tight security.
Meanwhile, Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and civil aviation, will arrive today in Al-Ahsa as part of his Eid tour of the Kingdom. He will inaugurate facilities in Ahsa and celebrate Eid with the armed forces. On Saturday Prince Sultan will attend several functions in Dammam.
The fireworks and other events produced a low turnout in Dammam and Alkhobar. Many families preferred to remain indoors and celebrate Eid Al-Fitr with family members and friends.
Except for Half Moon Beach and Dammam Corniche, public places, amusements centers and parks looked deserted. The biggest gathering was seen on Half Moon Beach, where Eastern Province residents and visitors from elsewhere in the Kingdom as well as Bahrain and Kuwait camped from early morning yesterday.
Hundreds of tents had been erected at the beach, and the Coast Guard were deployed at all the important points warning people against going into deep waters as the tide was high. Rescue teams and Red Crescent ambulances were on standby.
On the Dammam Corniche, hundreds of families had been gathered since noon. The traffic department has closed several streets to ease traffic on roads leading to the Corniche. By evening the Alkhobar Corniche was overcrowded.
