Dubai, UAE – Saudi international striker Fahad al-Muwallad has been hospitalized in intensive care after a shocking fall from the balcony of his second-storey residence in Dubai, according to Saudi and Emirati authorities.
The 30-year-old footballer, who played in the 2018 World Cup, was on holiday in Dubai when the incident occurred. The Dubai government media office confirmed that Muwallad fell from his balcony and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Dubai.
“As a result, Muwallad is in intensive care at a hospital in Dubai,” the Dubai government media office said in a statement.
The Saudi consulate in Dubai also released a statement on Sunday, confirming that it was informed of an “accident at (Muwallad’s) private residence… on Thursday.” The consulate added that it “is following the investigations conducted with the police” in Dubai.
Muwallad’s club, Al-Shabab, announced that their captain had traveled to Dubai to check on his condition. “We are closely monitoring the situation and wish Fahad a speedy recovery,” the club said in a statement.
However, Saudi newspaper Al-Madina pointed to “criminal suspicions” surrounding the incident, citing “informed sources.” The exact circumstances of the fall are still unclear, and authorities have launched an investigation into the matter.
Muwallad has had a successful international career, scoring 17 goals in 74 matches for Saudi Arabia. However, he has also faced challenges in his career, including two doping bans. The first ban was in May 2019, and the latest was between March 2022 and September 2023, after testing positive for furosemide, a diuretic that masks the presence of anabolic steroids and is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Before joining Al-Shabab, Muwallad played for Jeddah’s Al-Ittihad and has been a key player for the Saudi national team. His fans and fellow players are wishing him a speedy recovery and hoping for his return to the pitch soon.
