After reading your report, It's not only Christians who get into the Christmas spirit in the UAE (December 24), I have to say that I love the festive spirit of Christmas and remember celebrating it with my grandpa when I was young.
If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t know what Christmas was. Every year, we went to see all the lighted houses on the street.
Every religion should see the wonderful festive side of this holiday.
Soad Elashrfi, Dubai
We celebrate Christmas with multiple nationalities who are Christians, Muslims and Hindus.
Bless the leaders of this country for encouraging this. The real message of Christmas is love.
Lata George, Dubai
I am sure Muslims are happy that one of their highly respected prophets was born and can understand perfectly why Christians celebrate his birth – even if they don’t traditionally celebrate it themselves.
Giles Heaton, Dubai
I really appreciate the UAE for its open door to the diverse beliefs of those living and working here.
Christmas is about peace and joy to all mankind.
Betty Sakalia, Abu Dhabi
According to my two little boys, any occasion involving toys being gifted to them is worth celebrating, no matter the occasion’s religious affiliation.
Nadim Karmoussa, Dubai
I was invited by my Christian friends for a Christmas party – just like so many Muslims invite non-Muslims for Iftar or Eid celebrations.
That is the spirit of sharing and it helps explain why the UAE is progressive, because of its religious tolerance.
Name withheld by request
Taxes would not leave much
With regard to your editorial, Remittances tax needs careful study (December 24), we are Abu Dhabi residents who already pay very high taxes to the USA.
No matter where we live, we have to declare every dirham or dollar we earn, even including interest from our bank accounts. If we now also have to pay more taxes here in the UAE, there will be hardly anything left.
As for the UAE, we contribute in many ways. One example is by paying high rents for our accommodation, eating at restaurants, going shopping, often flying with UAE-based airlines, making donations to the Red Crescent and special charity drives etc.
So that is how we as expatriates contribute to the UAE. So please do not start to add taxes for every expatriate in this country.
We all give back to the UAE in many positive ways, big and small. We all do our part.
Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi
I believe this would require increasing salaries to a reasonable standard in all sectors for all people.
How can you tax a person earning Dh800 or even one earning Dh20,000? Only those earning higher figures should feel the pinch.
Hasan Kato, Abu Dhabi
I think it will be a good idea to tax those who earn more instead of those who hardly earn. By contrast, remittances are mainly sent by lower-paid workers.
Gere George Kuruvilla, Dubai
Whose fault is a damp villa?
In relation to your news report, Dubai landlord insists tenant pays to fix villa swamped with damp (December 24), this is a health and safety issue and has nothing to do with the tenant.
It has to do with poor building quality, and tenants are not responsible for that.
Chris Reid, Dubai
Damp contains bacteria that can cause serious diseases.
Ahmed Adnan Shehadah, Abu Dhabi
Rabies jabs not needed in UAE
Dan's advice to take care with unfamiliar dogs (Dog bite yields a salutary lesson, December 24) is sensible, as is the advice to boost tetanus immunity following a bite – or any other wound, for that matter – if not recently vaccinated.
However in the UAE there is no need to embark on a lengthy course of rabies vaccination, as he seems to be doing.
Rabies does not exist in UAE pets, a fact recognised by authorities internationally. This is why pets may enter many countries directly from the UAE with zero or minimal quarantine periods.
Martin Wyness, British Veterinary Centre, Abu Dhabi
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
Company profile
Name: The Concept
Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 7
Sector: Aviation and space industry
Funding: $250,000
Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products
The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
Uefa Nations League: How it Works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The bio
Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
Favourite food: Seafood
Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange
Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania
Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.
Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
