Dubai needs parks for every neighbourhood

A reader calls for more public parks in Dubai. Other topics: London attack, language, rents

A reader calls for parks in every neighbourhood in Dubai as a measure to reduce obesity. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

It's true that despite being such a peaceful country, the UAE is falling prey to silent a killer such as obesity and related complications (Residents not as healthy as they think, April 23).

Dubai has big and beautiful parks with all the amenities, but they are too few. I feel that there should be more places in every neighbourhood, such as small parks with only jogging tracks and not with the elaborate sports facilities, so that people don’t have to make plans to go there and exercise. Everyone should be able to walk to those parks in their respective areas whenever they feel like it.

Dr Puneet Wadhwa, NMC Specialty Hospital, Dubai

What do London attacks tell of UK?

This refers to the news report Another UAE family attacked in London (April 23). I'm from the UK and trust me it has got nothing to do with racism or being Muslim. When you ask anyone from the UK what they know about Dubai, they say seven-star hotels, a rich boy's playground and so they view all Emiratis as rich.

London is a big city. Not so long ago the economy crashed and many were left homeless and jobless. Meanwhile, the UAE continues to thrive with more and more projects being built and this appears in newspapers, on TV, through social networks, Expo 2020, The Guinness Book of Records and so on.

While Abu Dhabi Tourism is keen to educate tourists that visit here about the acceptable ways to behave, likewise the British Tourism Authority should do the same to protect tourists who visit the UK.

This crime and the previous one are abhorable and since living and working here, I can categorically say I feel much safer living here than I do in my own country.

Name withheld by request

It may not be racism, but it is certainly profiling. I don’t know if these tourists were flashing cash, but they might have been in national dress and that made them targets. However, they should be allowed to wear their national clothing with pride anywhere they want and not fear attack.

These criminals went beyond robbing and resorted to dangerous measures by raiding an apartment fully armed.

I am waiting to hear the response of the UK officials. Will it be like last time when the hotel stated it was not at fault and security was not an issue?

Patricia Perry Geiger, Dubai

Is it necessary to learn English?

I refer to the article Emirati dialect is in decline (April 21). English is the world language, but if you are going to spend most of your life in the UAE, it would be a good idea to learn Arabic too. Everybody in South Africa, by comparison, can speak English and another one of its 11 languages.

Jan Gerrit Louw, South Africa

For most Emiratis, the focus has now shifted from Arabic to English. Because of this they are losing touch with their national language. In fact, it is pleasantly surprising to witness non-Arabs speaking fluent Arabic. If the trend continues, a time will come when the future generations will struggle with the Arabic language.

Fatima Suhail, Sharjah

We must move on with the times. English is the international language. If you can’t speak it, you’re limiting yourself greatly on a global level.

Theo Scheepers, Dubai

English is only a link language, if a person can understand and speak it, that’s well and enough. But one should not lose the essence of one’s tradition and culture.

Muneeb Ahmed, Sharjah

Rising rents a cause for major concern

I am surprised at the rate of increase in house rents in Dubai (Dubai rent rises 'unsustainable' as first quarter figures revealed, April 9).

According to a study quoted in your report, house rents in Dubai are rising by “unsustainable” levels – something that may push more and more tenants to relocate to the northern emirates. Because of unaffordable and unrealistic rents, thousands of people have to commute to Dubai from Sharjah every day, braving harrowing traffic jams.

Now Sharjah is no longer that affordable, as rents have risen there sharply in recent years. If you need a decent accommodation, you will need to cough up a decent amount of rent. What are middle-income earners like us supposed to do? Live in Ajman or RAK?

It is becoming impossible for so many people to continue. If housing is not affordable, how can one live here? A large number of expatriates live with their families. The exorbitant cost of living is forcing many of them to send their families home.

Name withheld by request