Tuition and rent, not luxuries, are squeezing expats

Readers discuss the reason for squeezed budgets in the UAE. Other topics: cycle awareness, nicotine addiction, defeating extremism and turtle safety tips.

Readers discuss whether the high life is the real cause of workers’ budget woes. Sarah Dea / The National

In reference to your article, Expats tell how they were financially forced to leave the UAE (January 9), it seems to suggest that if expats can't save, it's because they're spending too much on "luxuries".

I would like to see an article that addresses the uncomfortable reality that most employers no longer pay enough to fully cover rent or school fees. This means the cost of living in the UAE is now so high that it just doesn’t make sense for families to come here if they intend to save.

For single people or couples, maybe it is worthwhile. But for families? Forget it.

Unless you’re one of the lucky few who still have your employer fully covering rent and school fees, the sheer cost of housing and tuition totally blows away the benefits of not paying income tax.

Name withheld by request

There is a solution to this: give up the high life.

Move somewhere cheaper to live, drive a Corolla, and quit the weekend getaways. Forget about new Dubai and shift to old Dubai for shopping, nightlife and commuting.

Dubai sure is expensive, but there are options.

Gere George Kuruvilla, Dubai

As the family cited in the article, I wanted to add that we have fond memories of Abu Dhabi. The main reason we moved back to Australia was so our son could attend six months of primary school here before going to high school.

Also, crucially, we had saved enough money to buy a decent house in a good suburb in Perth. We were not high spenders but we did enjoy our life in Abu Dhabi and are grateful that we could achieve our financial and educational aims while there.

Alan Pollock, Australia

Drivers need to be cyclist-aware

While the UAE is really trying to change the face of safe cycling, having just returned from my weekend bike ride I am reminded just how far there is to go (Why not #cycletoworkuae?, December 30).

I was nearly hit twice in two hours by inconsiderate drivers who don’t recognise that cyclists have the right to be on the road too. Drivers who cut in while turning right frequently underestimate the speed at which cyclists travel.

Mike Burton, Abu Dhabi

After watching your video (Taking to the trails on Hatta's new mountain-biking routes, January 9), I want to congratulate the team who put these trails together.

I was out there last weekend and it is great.

John Taylor, Dubai

Treat smoking as an addiction

In relation to your article, Dubai smokers back Ministry of Health smoking measures (January 8),

people are not smoking themselves to death because they are stupid but because nicotine addiction is genuinely a drug addiction.

The urges felt by nicotine addicts use the same brain dopamine pathways as felt by alcoholics and heroin, cocaine and amphetamine addicts.

If the UAE wants to get truly serious about public health, it should help smokers to quit and educate children about the risks. Smokers are not the enemy here.

John Polito, US

Good people will always beat evil

With regard to your editorial, History shows the extremists always fail (January 9), the Muslims who are appalled by what happened in France are educated and moderate.

By contrast, extremist groups are usually uneducated, self-serving individuals. The terrorists won’t prevail because the world is becoming more civilised and educated.

We must stand together and reach out to all nations, all cultures, and all people.

The good people will win – they always do.

Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi

For safer roads, take a turtle

During a recent kayaking trip off Raha Beach, my fiancé spotted an ailing Hawksbill Turtle with barnacles all over his head and back. We decided to take it to the British Veterinary Centre for some treatment, which ended up saving his life.

Whilst driving, I noticed that having a small turtle in the footwell encouraged me to brake, turn and accelerate far less exuberantly than usual.

Perhaps this is the way forward for the UAE’s poor driving culture, while concurrently assisting indigenous endangered species?

Chris Coles, Abu Dhabi