A myopic view of a global city

Readers criticise the UK journalist's article on Dubai. Other topics: Crime, Dubai police, Sharjah fire

Readers express their opinions on visiting Dubai but not leaving the airport. Kamran Jebreili /AP Photo

The way you feel after reading a piece of journalism will usually tell you quite a lot about the journalist (A view from afar, October 21). The writer in the UK paper has every right to say what he likes but unfortunately to be so scathing of a city and those who live there without having visited himself is ridiculous.

Giles Heaton, Dubai

The person who wrote the negative article about Dubai in a British newspaper is getting far too much attention.

His article has no credibility at all as he has never been to the country and his research consisted of one disgruntled expatriate. He comes across simply as having a giant chip on his shoulder about wealth and I can’t believe the newspaper would pay him for this submission and consider it journalism.

Sophia Kamber, Dubai

I’ve just read the article in the British newspaper and I found it to be disgraceful and bordering on slanderous. As is sadly typical of the western media, it’s just another ill-informed person with a word processor who thinks he has the right to malign a country of which he knows nothing just because it’s in the Middle East.

Ben Adamson, Dubai

This is click bait designed to get everyone to read it. Clearly it has worked as it is getting very high traffic and we are all talking about it. I’d be interested to know if the writer actually exists. Clearly the UK paper is desperate for traffic or they wouldn’t run a piece like this, which isn’t researched and does not have a point.

Noel Ebdon, UK

Awesome work by Dubai Police

It’s incredible that after eight years, the fourth member of the Pink Panther group has been arrested (Fourth suspect in 2007 Wafi Mall jewellery raid arrested, October 16). It shows how Dubai Police relentlessly pursue criminals. The message is clear: do not commit a crime in Dubai, because if you do they will get you.

Abdulkarim Talib, Abu Dhabi

Awesome work by Dubai Police. They never gave up, which is why they succeeded in apprehending the criminal.

Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi

Beating children will not solve any problems

It is sad that teachers are losing their cool and beating pupils in classrooms as apparently shown in the videos that went viral this month (School violence is a challenge for the community, October 21). There cannot be any justification for violence and physical abuse. Corporal punishment is no solution. These teachers need to change their approach to make children realise their mistakes. Also, given the increase in the number of such incidences, the authorities must install CCTV in every classroom to monitor the behaviour of both teachers and students.

Fatima Suhail, Sharjah

Set aside that some children do really stretch everyone’s patience and have no sense of respect due to lack of home education or bad encouragement, I believe no parent sends their child to school to be abused or bullied by a mature person who is supposed to be an example.

Nikki Caz, Abu Dhabi

Undisciplined children and unsupportive management create enormous stress for a teacher. This article focuses on the symptoms and not the cure.

Hoani Horsfall, Dubai

Will the pledge be fulfilled?

In your story Sharjah fire families forced to sleep in parks (October 14), you have reported that "the owner has pledged to house the affected tenants at his expense until the building is fixed and passed the fire and safety regulations". I would like to see how this turns out. Please provide a follow-up at the end of the month.

Jeffrey Martin, Dubai