Not all residents are unhappy with new development
Tenants want their new homes in good order (September 18) was a very disappointing article.
I live at Al Muneera and I am extremely happy with all aspects of the development. The views are great, the beach is delightful, the canal path is unique and the facilities are just the ticket.
The shops are now fitting-out; when they are complete, I will struggle to think of reasons to leave this paradise.
When I received my apartment it was in excellent order and with the appropriate care it is still in excellent condition.
I have lived in numerous buildings in Abu Dhabi, new and old; in all cases, if you don't keep your air conditioning on through the summer months then you will probably get mould. This, in my view, is easy to avoid.
Surely, if a property is left vacant and problems like this occur, then it is the responsibility of the owner and not the developer. I have sympathy for residents who are experiencing problems, but the development is less than a year old and will inevitably experience some teething problems.
The underlying quality undoubtedly shines through for me and for the residents with whom I have spoken. I have never been happier while living in Abu Dhabi. Getting home in the evening after work is like arriving on holiday.
J Mawby, Abu Dhabi
Willing to recycle, but unable to do it
I am writing in response to Recycling drive as Dubai runs out of landfill space to dump rubbish (September 23).
Show me where I can recycle and I will do it. There is no alternative for most people than to dump their rubbish.
SJ Fallon, Dubai
Freedom requires responsibility
There is a difference between freedom of speech and insulting a religion followed by more than a billion people (New cartoons denigrate Islam, September 20).
Hiding behind freedom of speech to expose your bigoted opinions, racial hatred or religious intolerance isn't doing freedom of speech any favours.
Aziza Al Busaidy, Dubai
Paying upfront is unfair to tenants
I am writing in reference to Dubai will ban agencies and brokers who flout property rules (September 20).
How come, with all this discussion about the huge amount of money these scammers have made off with, there hasn't been a call to change the current system of paying a year's rent upfront?
This system is really unfair towards tenants. Who has that much money available to pay all in one go? There is already a signed contract between the landlord and tenant, so why demand payment for the year?
It would be better to just pay monthly, as has been the case everywhere else I have lived.
Jennifer Fisher, Abu Dhabi
Make it easy for debtors to pay
Your writer Aida Al Busaidy says: There must be a better way than jail for consumer debt (September 23), Well, there is a better way.
I support debt neutrality, where people agree to pay down their debts and in exchange they are not charged interest, penalties or fees.
Once consumer debt drops at least by 50 per cent, new types of credit cards need to be introduced, with monthly minimum payments that are higher than 2 per cent.
Monthly minimum payments of 5 to 15 per cent would greatly reduce the amount of debt people get into.
However, to simply implement such a plan now would be unfair, as people who are barely hanging on would simply default.
Also, I think the authorities should change the rule that debt restructure first requires a default. This would assist honest people who are trying to get out of debt.
A Machi, Dubai
Owner wants an end to standoff
I am writing about the situation at Al Hamra Village (Residents fear being locked out over fees row, September 22).
Surely the Ras Al Khaimah authorities should intervene soon.
I am an owner and I am very unhappy about paying these unjustified charges.
Name and address withheld
Pitt-Rai pairing most welcome
Brad Pitt on Bollywood? He's interested (September 23)is great news.
The movie industry should be international, and bringing one of America's biggest stars to India would make that point.
Teaming Pitt with the beautiful and extremely talented Aishwarya Rai would be a dream come true for many film fans.
Michael Peterson, Dubai
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
more from Janine di Giovanni
The bio
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France
Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines
Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.
Favourite Author: My father for sure
Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Europe's top EV producers
- Norway (63% of cars registered in 2021)
- Iceland (33%)
- Netherlands (20%)
- Sweden (19%)
- Austria (14%)
- Germany (14%)
- Denmark (13%)
- Switzerland (13%)
- United Kingdom (12%)
- Luxembourg (10%)
Source: VCOe
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The line up
Friday: Giggs, Sho Madjozi and Masego
Saturday: Nas, Lion Bbae, Roxanne Shante and DaniLeigh
Sole DXB runs from December 6 to 8 at Dubai Design District. Weekend pass is Dh295 while a one day pass is Dh195. Tickets are available from www.soledxb.com
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cary%20Joji%20Fukunaga%2C%20Dee%20Rees%2C%20Anna%20Boden%2C%20Ryan%20Fleck%2C%20Tim%20Van%20Patten%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Austin%20Butler%2C%20Callum%20Turner%2C%20Anthony%20Boyle%2C%20Barry%20Keoghan%2C%20Sawyer%20Spielberg%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Quick%20facts
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStorstockholms%20Lokaltrafik%20(SL)%20offers%20free%20guided%20tours%20of%20art%20in%20the%20metro%20and%20at%20the%20stations%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20tours%20are%20free%20of%20charge%3B%20all%20you%20need%20is%20a%20valid%20SL%20ticket%2C%20for%20which%20a%20single%20journey%20(valid%20for%2075%20minutes)%20costs%2039%20Swedish%20krone%20(%243.75)%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETravel%20cards%20for%20unlimited%20journeys%20are%20priced%20at%20165%20Swedish%20krone%20for%2024%20hours%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAvoid%20rush%20hour%20%E2%80%93%20between%209.30%20am%20and%204.30%20pm%20%E2%80%93%20to%20explore%20the%20artwork%20at%20leisure%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A