Small doses of graffiti art are good for our cities

I am happy to see the country opening up to graffiti art (eL Seed's towering new text in Ajman, July 5). I have been seeing an increasing number of graffiti art in the cities. My favourite is the one in Al Raha.

The value of art is in the eye of the beholder. We can agree, though, that much of the stuff that graffiti artists produce in other parts of the world hurt their cities. Some of it is beautiful, though.

Ibrahim M, Dubai

With no disrespect to el Seed and his art, I miss some real graffiti - the kind that appears overnight, sprayed by talented underground kids.

Wiltrud Matthes, Dubai

Drones ought to be regulated or even banned

Last year, Dubai International Airport closed its airspace three times due to drones flying too close to the area (UAE looks to combat drone incursions after Gatwick incident, July 5). Dozens of flights were diverted. These drones must be better regulated.

I have seen children flying drones in our neighbourhood. I am not opposed to that, but some of them fly them too close to the windows of high-rise buildings. Such activities are a nuisance. Who knows whether these drones are fitted with cameras or not? If drones cannot be better regulated, they should be banned. They can really pose security threats to individuals and institutions.

Maurice Taylor, Dubai

Traffic laws must be enforced across the country uniformly

Regarding the traffic law, I'm confused (More than 1,200 drivers caught by Dubai Police on first day of law change, July 4). The other day, I was driving on the highway at 65kph when the radar went off. I found it strange as I was in an 80kph zone, meaning one can drive at 100kph. This was in Ras Al Khaimah.

Christina Murphy, Dubai

I am glad that finally the new traffic laws are taking effect. This should happen all over the country.

More importantly, drivers need better training and the licensing system must be tougher. Why can’t the UAE follow a system similar to the ones in Canada or the United States?

Name withheld by request

Education cost is not that high compared to that of US

In reference to your article UAE parents pay more than double global average for education (July 3), if you paid $99,000 for private school from kindergarten to four years of college, you are getting a steal in UAE. In the United States, I have paid about $170,000 for my son to attend private school from the first to 10th grade, and I still have two more years of high school and four years of college to go.

Sharona Thomas-Wilson, Dubai

School fees are outrageous. There needs to be a serious reform in terms of how much schools should be allowed to charge.

Sara Smith , Dubai

South and West: From a Notebook
Joan Didion
Fourth Estate

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COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Letstango.com

Started: June 2013

Founder: Alex Tchablakian

Based: Dubai

Industry: e-commerce

Initial investment: Dh10 million

Investors: Self-funded

Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat

How to apply for a drone permit

Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
Submit their request

What are the regulations?

Fly it within visual line of sight
Never over populated areas
Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
Should have a live feed of the drone flight
Drones must weigh 5 kg or less

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

E-cigarettes report

Tobacco giants, under attack from governments and forced to print gruesome warnings on their products, pour millions into 'healthier' e-cigarette products

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

What is Folia?

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.

Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."

Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.

In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".

There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.

While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."