Dubai: not the shopping but the experience

A reader maintains that shopping is not the main attraction of Dubai, but rather its spectacular architecture and opulent lifestyle.

A reader maintains that shopping is not the main attraction of Dubai but its spectacular architecture and opulent lifestyle. Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters

In reference to the article Dubai braces for UK shopping invasion (December 31), I have recently visited Dubai and can confirm that the prices are more expensive than in the UK. I wouldn't go there to shop. However, I would definitely go again to witness the most amazing, awe-inspiring country I have ever visited.

The sights, architecture, opulence, jaw-dropping beauty, cultural education and over-all five-star experience is definitely worth the flight.

Jo-Ann Stamp, UK

The other side of the maid coin

The article The listener who's firm but fair (December 31) profiled Ophelia Almenario, a welfare officer at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, and her work with Filipina maids. This represented only one side of the coin. Not all housemaids who run away are maltreated or whatever.

I had one myself, and despite good treatment, she still ran away because she befriended a taxi driver and chose to run away. She was not maltreated. In fact, I am the one who has a complaint against her. She was verbally abusive and careless about her chores, especially with the children. She took salary advances and never paid me back. I hope the next time an article appears about housemaids, please ask the concerned official what should be done with abusive housemaids.

Mariam al Yanyo, Abu Dhabi

Labour protection laws needed now

In reference to the news article Employers criticise new labour regulations (December 28), no human being should have control over another, and if companies treated their employees more as assets as opposed to property, staff wouldn't be looking to leave, would they? It's about time that the labour market became competitive and that companies lost the master and servant mentality they have enjoyed for far too long.

Eric Sandler, Abu Dhabi

I'm happy to see that companies in the UAE finally realise that they have to care for their workforce. If company executives in another country heard these employer arguments against the new regulations, they would laugh at them.

Maybe one day the companies here will also realise that loyal workers are much more valuable than threatened workers.

Tobias Speer, Abu Dhabi

Parents are the key to values

I refer to the front page news article 'Parents to blame' for unruly children (December 30). One doesn't lose values because of changes around us for change is a constant feature of life. One loses them or does not gain them at all when they are not instilled from the very beginning. Lifestyle and parents are certainly factors affecting a child's personal growth.

Don't blame social changes, the media or foreigners.

F Baasleim, Dubai

The de rigueur way to spell

While it is always pleasing for a person born in France to see French words in an English language newspaper, it is "de rigueur" to spell them correctly, unlike in the article on the front page of the travel section (Taking the plunge, January 1): "de rigeur".

Bonne Année!

Béatrice Wright, age 10, Abu Dhabi

Catalans in favour of independence

The sports article Catalunya: a team that won't make a World Cup (December 27) was a good piece. I would like to point out something important. The comment: "A minority of less than 10 per cent of Catalans desire the absolute independence from Spain" is very inaccurate.

A survey published by the prestigious Catalan Open University over the last two years showed that a majority (50.3 per cent) of Catalans are in favour of independence.

Miqui, Abu Dhabi

A hypocritical and ironic request

The news article Israel: Stop photos of Hamas suspects (December 31) reported that in the later stages of the investigation into the murder of the Hamas leader Mahmoud al Mabhouh, Israel, through an intermediary, requested that the Dubai police chief stop publishing photos of the Israeli spy operatives involved, for humanitarian reasons involving their families.

How very hypocritical and tragically ironic. Israel objects to publishing the picture of its assassins while others publish pictures of themselves with blindfolded, bound Palestinian civilians.

MK, Dubai