The Gulf can be the link to bring people together

Readers debate Saudi Arabia. Other topics: Teacher salaries, Dubai judges and the beauty of Emirati culture

A reader argues that Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s deputy crown prince, was right to put Iran on notice. Charles Platiau / Reuters

I read with great interest your editorial concerning Saudi Arabia's deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman's strong words about Iran (Saudi Arabia's patience with Iran is over, May 3).

As you said, and I agree, his country’s patience with Iran is wearing thin and he has put it on notice. The prince has also made another thought-provoking statement by asking: “What are the common points that we might be able to reach an understanding on with this regime?” A simple answer is the Gulf – its safety and sustainability, as it faces an interestingly risky and fragile nexus of food-water and energy resources in the future.

The shared Gulf is a lifeline for the eight countries that surround it, supporting a significant fraction of their critical resource needs. This region is one of the driest in the world and prolonged drought and population growth have increased the surrounding countries’ dependency on the Gulf for water, energy and food security. Desalination along the Gulf has exploded in recent decades in efforts to secure reliable water supplies, representing 45 per cent of the world’s desalination capacity. In 2010, the fraction of drinking water sourced from desalination of Gulf water was Qatar, 99 per cent; UAE, 95 per cent; Kuwait, 95 per cent; Bahrain, over 80 per cent; Oman, 80 per cent.

Although surrounding countries are trying to address this issue by building underground water storage reservoirs, most countries only have enough storage supply to last a few days in an emergency. The Gulf also supports irrigation water and the fishing industry, with some of the highest seafood consumption per capita rates in the world.

The Gulf is also an important economic hub for oil and gas production. In 2016, over 800 offshore platforms were located in the Gulf and more than 50,000 tankers travelled through. If the above common points are not enough for an understanding to be reached, then the following may help: the region is currently expanding its nuclear power industry significantly.

Dr Najmedin Meshkati, USA

Are teacher fees too costly?

I am writing about the recent piece on school fees and teacher salaries (High school fees 'necessary to attract best teachers', May 4). People need to remember that teachers also have a right to earn a decent wage and that many are also parents.

Teachers have to have at least three years’ experience in their subject and often more.

All teachers work hard and most offer far more to a school than just their specialised subject. Unfortunately teacher bashing is a common international theme and so many people think that teaching should be a vocation and not a career. Well, here’s something novel, if you think you can do it better teach your children at home.

I am not a teacher but I am a daughter of a teacher and the mother of one and I know how hard they work for their money.

Carol Goodey, Abu Dhabi

The fees for my five-year-old child to attend school are considerably more than a degree in the United Kingdom. You’re telling me you can’t find a Year One teacher for less?

Adam Pitt, Dubai

When you see that most of the private schools’ net profits hit millions of dirhams then you can tell it is not about maintaining quality education – although quality of education is generally poor – rather than making more profits

Firas Barqawi, Abu Dhabi

Can everyone work this hard?

The Dubai judge is working too hard (Hard-working judge at Dubai's new One Day Court settles 6,000 cases in less than 2 months, May 4).

It is too much pressure to consistently be under. Such pressure will lead to poor decision-making.

Makes me wonder if the people that are placed before him are actually getting a fair trial. The legal system should be respected above all else.

Talal Aburashed, Dubai

If he worked eight solid hours every working day with no coffee breaks, he would be dealing with a case approximately every 3.3 minutes. I don’t know any one that is able to work such hours and still get great results. He is quite the superstar.

Baber Nasser, Dubai

The beauty of Emirati culture

The recent majlis piece was fantastic (The majlis: Emirati culture exists – just look closer, May 2). The article explains well the beauty in Emirati culture. The beauty of Emirati culture is seldom explained in English in such a lovely manner.

Mohammed Omar, Abu Dhabi