Organic market needs space to grow

Readers praise the new organic markets. Other topics: car modifications, empty petrol tanks and fences on central reservations.

Readers enjoyed the Ripe market at the St Regis, Saadiyat Island. Roberta Pennington / The National

I loved the new Ripe Market at Saadiyat Island (Organic market shows the capital's growth, November 17).

It has easy access and is perfectly located for those of us who hate driving into the city centre for everything.

My only suggestion would be to have more prepared food stalls like they do at the Ripe Market in Dubai, so customers can have snacks or meals as they do their shopping.

The space is a little small for that, but perhaps they’ll grow to a larger location in time.

Overall, I’m definitely going to make this my regular spot for buying produce.

Shannon Soesbe, Abu Dhabi

Visiting the market was a fabulous day with activities for the children, a musician and seating areas.

Space was a bit tight, but I love the fact that Ripe has made an appearance in Abu Dhabi.

Noura Al Sarraj, Abu Dhabi

I try to buy local vegetables whenever possible.

They may not be perfectly shaped, but they don’t have the air miles.

Karen Evans, Abu Dhabi

Call for clamp on illegal car modifications

I would like to see a report on excessive vehicle noise from cars and motorcycles. This problem is getting worse throughout the UAE.

People don’t seem to know that it’s illegal to modify cars to make them louder and that they can be fined for doing so.

The authorities should be looking out for illegal modifications during annual car inspections.

These vehicles cause great disturbance to families and other pedestrians.

S Toumajan, Al Ain

Street fences cause offence

I am concerned about the number of fences being built along the central reservations on multi-lane roads in Abu Dhabi.

The need for these fences is understandable in heavy traffic areas such as Al Zahiyah (formerly Tourist Club area) or the Corniche. But in the heart of Abu Dhabi, they are not necessary for pedestrian safety.

These grey metal fences are very ugly and, in time, they will all turn brown with rust, as they already are on Al Khaleej Al ­Arabi Street.

This is what visitors to Abu Dhabi will notice when they first arrive. It won’t be the grass, flowers and date palms, it will be the fences.

Deborah Burger, Abu Dhabi

We’re running on empty

I refer to That empty feeling when the tank is dry (November 17), about drivers in Dubai running out of petrol.

Could it have anything to do with a growing number of vehicles on the road and what appears to be a disproportionate number of petrol stations able to service them?

Jim Buckingham, Abu Dhabi

This may be related to the long lines to actually get petrol.

Shana Ahmad, Abu Dhabi

With the increase in stress and work pressure, one hardly has time to think of looking at the instrument panel of a car.

Continuous calls from the office, clients, planning the next move, meetings and so on, cause one to deviate attention from the instrument panel.

Having said that, increasing the number of petrol stations and placing them strategically would help motorists.

Rajesh Lakshminarayan, Dubai

Reality bites with rules on divorce

Know the law when it comes to expat divorce in the UAE (November 15) was a really helpful article.

It is essential reading for British expatriates in the UAE. It seems that an errant husband could make things very difficult for his spouse if the “Dubai dream” starts to sour.

However, I hope that most men would be essentially decent and would not try to leave their wives in poverty.

Expatriates are quick to enjoy the benefits of life in the UAE but they clearly need to be aware of the legal implications if things don’t work out.

L Herbert, Dubai

Naming groups is a good move

Congratulations to the UAE for its part in fighting ISIL (UAE names extremist groups as terrorists, November 16).

People who feel they need a cause to follow will now be aware of each group and how involvement with them will bring shame to their families and a loss of security to this country.

Name withheld by request