Do we need more malls?

A reader wonders whether Abu Dhabi needs another shopping mall. Other topics: ISIL, plant expert, fuel price, house rents

A reader wonders if Abu Dhabi needs another shopping mall. Above, an artist’s impression of Reem Mall, which is expected to come up by 2018. Courtesy UPAC

The images of the upcoming Reem Mall are nice (Reem Mall: Another shopping paradise coming to Abu Dhabi – in pictures, June 29), but I am wondering whether we need more malls here.

Don’t we have enough shopping malls? Instead, why not build sprawling community parks, something like Dubai’s Mushrif Park, where people can go for picnics and barbecues.

Another thing that Abu Dhabi needs is affordable housing. With rents going up and salaries stagnant, people desperately need those options. Any of those would be better than malls.

How one girl was duped by an ISIL fighter

It's really horrible that so many people are joining ISIL (Despite brutality, ISIL continues to recruit European teenagers, June 30). I've personally known a 16-year-old girl, who made Facebook contact with an ISIL recruiter. She fell in love with a man, who seemed tough and persuaded her to join him in Syria. He promised that he would marry her there. He told her to study religion and become a good homemaker and mother. As it turned out, she was brought to Syria through Turkey, where her passport was seized. She stayed in a house taken by that man, where she was raped by ISIL fighters.

I came to know about the incident from her sister, who managed to secure the girl’s release from ISIL’s grip with the help of the British intelligence services.

According to official data this year, more than 30 British girls have already become victims of such “recruiting”. Only four of them were over the age of 20.

Jessie B, UK

Plant expert an inspiration

It was interesting to read about MIH Farooqi, the expert on plants mentioned in the Quran (A chat with an expert of Quranic plants, June 19). He deserves appreciation not only for his work, but for dedicating his life to finding the uses and properties of plants that are mentioned in the Holy Book. He is an inspiration to others.

Fatima Suhail, Sharjah

What’s the real price of fuel?

The report Drivers 'not under the pump' (June 30) failed to mention the cost of fuel in Venezuela. It is $0.12 per litre.

However, let’s be clear that these governments spend billions of dollars in subsidies to maintain such prices and the real issue is whether such subsidies should continue or be removed and invested in alternative energy. It is counter-intuitive to want to reduce carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions and yet maintain such strong demand for fossil fuels on account of their low cost.

This encourages the use of fuel-guzzling V8 5.6-litre engines, which many can’t afford in Europe, and vehicles in general. Europe will soon implement euro 6 standards on emissions and hopefully others will follow.

A recent report from Nasa concluded that carbon dioxide is the single largest contributor to global warming.

Randall Mohamed, Dubai

Rents have risen sharply in capital

I refer to the story Dubai and Abu Dhabi tenants locked in limbo as landlords seek rent advantage (June 20). Our rent has increased more than 30 per cent this year. And we are the lucky ones. It is the same for my whole building.

Everyone’s rent went up sharply. We are looking for a new place but rents have risen sharply all over Abu Dhabi. So where does this 4 per cent number come from?

There are no two-bedroom apartments with tawtheeq in Abu Dhabi for less than Dh80,000. This was not the case last year.

Feda Jarad, Abu Dhabi