Israel's Ram given visa to play in Dubai

By Firouz Sedarat

DUBAI (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will allow Israel's Andy Ram to play in the men's Dubai Championships next week, the state news agency WAM said on Thursday.

A UAE foreign ministry official was quoted as saying the doubles specialist would be given "special permission" to take part.

"This... does not politically imply any form of normalization with countries with which the UAE has no diplomatic relations," the official told WAM.

Top Israeli player Shahar Peer had to forfeit her place in the women's tournament in Dubai this week after the UAE blocked her visa application.

However, on Thursday Women's Tennis Association (WTA) chief Larry Scott said he had been assured that all Israeli athletes would be given "a special permit" by the UAE government to enter the country if they have qualified for a tournament.

"We welcome the change of the UAE policy which will allow Andy Ram to play this week in Dubai and which clarifies that all Israeli athletes will be able to compete in future tournaments in UAE," Scott said in a statement.

AN EXCUSE

Tournament officials defended the stance to exclude Peer, saying local fans would have boycotted the event if an Israeli was allowed to compete and that her safety could also have been compromised.