Dubai font is a great form of branding

Readers discuss Dubai's new font. Other topics: swimming pools, taxi fares and liver disease

Readers discuss Dubai’s attention to typography and its new font. AFP Photo

I am very happy about Dubai's new font (Dubai Font: Sheikh Hamdan unveils Microsoft's first font to be created for a city, April 30). This is excellent news as it demonstrates the rising attention to typography and design in the UAE. Moreover, the typeface created by Nadine Chahine is quite beautiful.

The article’s headline, however, is not correct. Many other cities around the world had their own typefaces specifically designed for them. A trend that actually started a couple of millennia ago in a city called Rome.

Goffredo Puccetti, Italy

Can we please stop it with the misleading headlines? Dubai is not the first city to get its own font worldwide nor even the first city in the Middle East. Amman was branded with its own logo back in 2009.

Zoulfa Khalaf, Dubai

I think that the font is modern and a chic form of branding. Dubai is to be commended for this leadership.

Melanie Nelson, Abu Dhabi

An unexpected fare increase

The Abu Dhabi taxi fare increase was unexpected (Abu Dhabi taxi fares increase for first time in five years, April 30). But I have noticed recently many new taxi cabs and hybrid cars in the city. This could explain the price increase.

Jase White, Abu Dhabi

To be honest, Abu Dhabi taxi fares are relatively cheap. Although I dislike the hike, I think the increase is reasonable.

Fires Barqawi, Abu Dhabi

I can’t cope with all these increases in the cost of living. The Government needs to ask employers to raise salaries to compensate for all this inflation.

Sara Smith, Abu Dhabi

The cost of living is going up for everyone. But it is a natural part of any economy the size of Abu Dhabi’s.

While we might be upset about the increase, we have to hope that some of the revenue will make its way to taxi drivers who work long hours and have a difficult job.

Name withheld by request

It is never too late to swim

I am writing about learning to swim ('Don't be embarrassed, learn to swim', adult learners say, April 27). It can be expensive to learn for adults. It would be lovely to see an initiative both at the beaches and public pools to help less fortunate people to learn the basics.

A child learns more quickly than an adult. How do you expect people on minimum wages to afford such a luxury? Many adults in the UAE have little money left over every month for swimming lessons. If it’s so quick and so cheap then programmes can be provided.

Daniella How, Sharjah

We strongly believe it’s never too late to learn. Swimming is practically the only sport that can save your child’s life. Drowning is still one of the most common causes of accidental death in children, so being able to swim is an essential life-saving skill.

Another great thing about swimming is that children of any age or ability can take part and it is more accessible for children with additional needs than almost any other sport.

Once you can swim it opens so many doors: waterpolo, scuba diving, canoeing, sailing, rookie lifeguard triathlons and so much more. We start teaching children in Abu Dhabi from 6 months old. We start with water safety and then move on to strokes. Every child we teach will learn the fundamentals and be able to jump into the water and get back to the edge safely or float.

Arabian Swim Academy, Abu Dhabi

If it only takes about 1-2 hours to learn to swim, it can’t be that expensive. When I was growing up the older children would teach the younger ones so I’ve taught a few people myself.

Abdalla Ali, Dubai

Yes, I am fond of swimming but I never learnt. This article has inspired me to learn how to swim.

Mohammed Shumayal, Dubai

How to be healthy today

The report about liver disease in children was eye-opening (UAE children as young as 15 suffer adult liver disease, April 29). We need to dr ink more water and juice, increase our intake of vegetables and fruits as well as limit junk food. This is a common sense solution.

The temptation and the craze for fatty foods need to stop but you can’t help it as long as there are fast food outlets in every nook and cranny of our cities.

Matthew Litty, Dubai