Burj deserves its top ranking

Praise for the world's top hotel, plus the USE dress code, alcohol and real men.

A suite in the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. (Pawan Singh / The National)

Burj Al Arab named 'Best Hotel in the World' for third year in a row (May 21) is no surprise.

Dubai is home to some of the finest hotels in the world, each beautiful in its own way.

The Burj Al Arab is worthy of the title given its unique architectural design and prime location near the shoreline of Jumeirah.

Fatima Suhail, Sharjah

This is great news and very well deserved.

As for me, I love the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi, but we all have different tastes.

Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi

Signs can show the way

In reference to Shoppers unsure of mall dress codes (May 20), visitors and expatriate residents ought to appreciate that while the UAE is modern in outlook, it is also an Islamic country.

Extra short shorts and skimpy wear should be reserved for the water park and the beach. Modest wear should prevail indoors, especially in public places such as malls where the air conditioning is turned up high and it makes eminent sense to be reasonably well covered.

Visitors who are skimpily clad are, perhaps, unaware of the unwarranted attention they are receiving.

While there is no need for official censure, prominent signs in public places such as airports, hotels and malls, and on government websites, would certainly help them.

Gita Mehra, Abu Dhabi

Cat theory is quite plausible

Domestication of cats can be traced to Middle East (may 21) makes sense.

The “Fertile Crescent” was where large-scale agriculture began, and cats would have been useful as pest control around grain storage area.

Some of them might have been domesticated and bred for this purpose.

Shohan Dsouza, Abu Dhabi

Fresh is better than fast food

I am commenting on your editorial, Food for thought for entrepreneurs (May 20).

I think the problem is that there is too much fast food. We need smaller cafes that focus on fresh ingredients with flavour, not bland reheated stuff. In this regard, I think Dubai’s restaurant scene is about 10 years behind other big cities.

Dave Pryce, Dubai

What exactly isa ‘real’ man?

I refer to Rym Ghazal's opinion article, When you're in a pickle, it's time to find a real man (May 21).

Real men don’t pay for dinner, they buy the groceries, prepare dinner and do the washing up. No man ever got shot while doing the dishes.

Tracy Wilson, Abu Dhabi

I am a feminist and my husband has always treated me like a lady.

He is very old-fashioned in that way – a real gentleman.

Teri Coley Adams, Abu Dhabi

The writer says that she needed a man to open her jar of pickles.

All you need to open a jar of pickles is the internet. Search YouTube:open jar.

Name withheld by request

I’ve never needed a man to open a jar for me. I bang the side of the lid hard on the counter top twice and it pops right open. I thought everyone knew how to do this.

J Schroeder, Dubai

Alcohol warning must be heeded

UAE doctors tell horror stories of damage wreaked by alcohol (May 21) provides a good warning for all expatriates living here.

Gula Smits-Gojayeva, Abu Dhabi

Alcohol is the cause of so much suffering in the world, as are hard drugs. It’s very sad.

Name withheld by request

Your teeth are what you eat

Dubai workers get free dental check-up (May 21) describes a great initiative and I applaud it.

These patients don’t have money to buy the processed sugary foods that lead to tooth decay. Their diet consists of simple foods which had been their respective nations’ staple food for thousands of years.

Hence, in general, they have a good state of oral hygiene.

Janet Humphrey, Abu Dhabi

I'm glad the workers are getting dental care, as it is so important. Free health checks would be nice too. Jen Bishop, Dubai