The front page article There's a speed limit, and there's the real speed limit (March 18) reported that there will be new speed signs on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai road: one showing the legal speed limit and one showing a higher speed that will incur fines.
The authorities should cancel all speeding tickets that are a direct result of this surprise change in the buffer limit on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway. If the authorities want to allow drivers to drive up to 160kph, then post a sign that says 140kph.
The buffer speed should be uniform everywhere. Put a stop to all this confusion. Confusion causes accidents.
I got a ticket recently when I was doing about 155kph on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway and I will be disputing it.
Ziad Q, Abu Dhabi
Clamping down on bad practices
The front page business article UAE banks banned from selling by phone (March 22) reported that the Central Bank has clamped down on banks calling customers to market loans and other services. Could these banks not advertise their products and then contact those who contact them?
Peter Cooper, Dubai
The Cricket World Cup endgame
In reference to Cricket World Cup groups points table (March 4), what would happen to the Pakistani team if they win the World Cup on Indian soil?
Would there be a reaction towards the Indian side for losing in front of their nation? Let's pray nothing drastic or out of the ordinary occurs if this scenario was to actually to play itself out.
Kaz Akbar, Abu Dhabi
Landlords must pay compensation
The news article Villa demolitions cause uproar (March 22) described the plight of tenants who were evicted from their villa for having illegal partitions. Nowhere in the world do landlords insist on a single cheque for rent. It is usually a monthly payment only. The landlords here ask for full payment for a year and if you leave midway, they will not refund the balance.
The landlord in this case should be asked to refund the amount immediately in full as obviously the partitions were his fault, and also to pay for transportation to new flats and another Dh10,000 to each tenant as compensation.
Dr KB Vijayakumar, Dubai
A fan's notes on Usher concert
I refer to the news article Shirt in place, Usher wows Dubai crowd (March 11). Yes, Usher did wow the crowd, and being one of his biggest fans ever, I can honestly say that it was the best concert I have ever been to in my entire life.
By the way, Usher didn't open with Hey Daddy ; he actually opened his concert with the track Monstar.
BD, Dubai
A question of right timing for offer
Regarding the travel article Wonderful vistas and VIP service (March 19), while I enjoyed Sue Ryan's article about Prague as it's one of my favourite cities to visit, I'm baffled as to the timeline stated for anyone wishing to partake of the Four Seasons Prague hotel's special offer.
As the deadline is March 31, it hardly gives anyone time to make the booking and arrange one's schedule via work commitments and so forth.
Graham Wride, Abu Dhabi
Correction on performing puja
In the article Hindu faith may be the world's oldest (March 14), the authors have written: "Before eating and bathing in the morning, Hindus often perform an act of ritual absolution called puja, which involves making an invocation or an offering to a god."
This is not correct. The sentence should begin: "After bathing and before eating in the morning ..."
Kunhi Kannan KR, Dubai
A thriving market for home buyers
The business article Miami homes back in vogue (March 22) described how international home buyers are attracted by a weak dollar and low prices in a depressed Miami property market.
Miami Beach was not hardest hit. Homestead, a city 30 minutes south of Miami, was hardest hit by foreclosures.
Miami Beach probably fared the best with South Beach falling maybe 20 per cent in home prices.
The market bottom of South Beach, for luxury condos, occurred last summer. Prices are up and inventory is very, very low.
Kevin Tomlinson, US
if you go
The flights
Emirates fly direct from Dubai to Houston, Texas, where United have direct flights to Managua. Alternatively, from October, Iberia will offer connections from Madrid, which can be reached by both Etihad from Abu Dhabi and Emirates from Dubai.
The trip
Geodyssey’s (Geodyssey.co.uk) 15-night Nicaragua Odyssey visits the colonial cities of Leon and Granada, lively country villages, the lake island of Ometepe and a stunning array of landscapes, with wildlife, history, creative crafts and more. From Dh18,500 per person, based on two sharing, including transfers and tours but excluding international flights. For more information, visit visitnicaragua.us.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
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WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
If you go
The flights
Emirates (www.emirates.com) and Etihad (www.etihad.com) both fly direct to Bengaluru, with return fares from Dh 1240. From Bengaluru airport, Coorg is a five-hour drive by car.
The hotels
The Tamara (www.thetamara.com) is located inside a working coffee plantation and offers individual villas with sprawling views of the hills (tariff from Dh1,300, including taxes and breakfast).
When to go
Coorg is an all-year destination, with the peak season for travel extending from the cooler months between October and March.
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
Who is Ramon Tribulietx?
Born in Spain, Tribulietx took sole charge of Auckland in 2010 and has gone on to lead the club to 14 trophies, including seven successive Oceania Champions League crowns. Has been tipped for the vacant New Zealand national team job following Anthony Hudson's resignation last month. Had previously been considered for the role.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
India squad for fourth and fifth Tests
Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rahul, Shaw, Pujara, Rahane (vc), Karun, Karthik (wk), Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Pandya, Ishant, Shami, Umesh, Bumrah, Thakur, Vihari
Sunday:
GP3 race: 12:10pm
Formula 2 race: 1:35pm
Formula 1 race: 5:10pm
Performance: Guns N' Roses
SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Results
2pm Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,800m
Winner AF Al Baher, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner Alla Mahlak, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
3pm Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner Davy Lamp, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly.
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner Ode To Autumn, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
4pm Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner Arch Gold, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
4.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,800m
Winner Meqdam, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
5pm Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner Native Appeal, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
5.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner Amani Pico, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
