I enjoyed reading Khalid Al Ameri's opinion article Amid rapid development, has the old Abu Dhabi been lost? (September 23). I hope Emiratis keep their traditions alive – their lovely way of greeting each other, their elegant dresses and the way they socialise.
It’s great to see families having picnics in parks in the evening, people enjoying the camel races, the Bedouin tents and old houses. I can think of many more traditional elements that are alive despite the country’s rapid development. I hope modern developments will not sweep away all these beautiful things.
Carol Barber, Dubai
A country where the majority of the population are expatriates can easily lose its identity. So in theory, there isn’t much of a local culture here unlike, say, Greece, Italy and Spain, whose cultures have survived for thousands of years.
Having said that, the UAE is still a young country. But at a time when globalisation is rampant and people move around so much, it will be hard to establish an identity distinct from other Gulf and Arab countries.
John Paravalos, Dubai
Oil industry owes a lot to women
I refer to the article Emirati women make strides in men's world of engineering (September 24). These are the stories that confirm what I have seen in the oil industry in Abu Dhabi.
There are fantastic, hard-working and incredibly smart Emirati women and men that are ensuring the future of this industry in the UAE.
Mark Ian Woodbury, Dubai
UAE can achieve education goals
I refer to the article UAE schools should be up with the world's best (September 19). I have no doubt that the UAE will get there. But we need to support and respect their ambition to be among the best in the world in terms of education.
Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi
Unfortunately, educators don’t seem to be involved in these plans. True academics are aware that success is not just dependent on results, but how these results are achieved and whether they are achieved according to the models being adopted.
Only research can determine this. Give the education system a chance instead of bombarding it with a “new fad”, as this is what the rest of the world is doing. If this country wants to be seen as a leader, not a follower in the education world, give research a chance and make sure the model fits its inhabitants rather than trying to put a square peg in a round hole.
Name withheld by request
Don’t tolerate your oppressors
If western politicians are making the mistake of intervening in the affairs of other nations, then the citizens of the affected countries need to stand up to their oppressors (Tony Blair has forgotten the lessons of his own history in Iraq, September 23).
They should stand up for the democracy of their country, for the freedom of their families and for future generations so they can have a better life.
The kind of condition that persists in Iraq and elsewhere only breeds contempt for anything western, which is silly. The West reacts because it is afraid of those elements. People will have to stand up to the bullies such as ISIL that threaten the safety of their countries. If they do so, then maybe the rest of the world wouldn’t need to panic so much.
Jen Bishop, Abu Dhabi
Children’s radio can be useful
I am thrilled to learn about the launch of Pearl FM radio channel (Two British expats create Pearl FM, the region's first radio station designed for children, September 22). Now we shouldn't have to worry about children's clothing stores playing unsuitable music.
Casey N Corley, Abu Dhabi
Mars mission makes India proud
It is good to hear that India's Mars Orbiter Mission spacecraft successfully manoeuvred itself into orbit around the Red Planet (India beats Asian rivals in race to Mars, September 24).
By doing so, India joins an elite club of the United States, Russia and Europe who can boast of reaching Mars. It’s a matter of pride not just for India, but for Asia. This success will boost India’s five-decade old space programme that prime minister Narendra Modi aims to expand with better infrastructure and technology.
Ramachandran Nair, Oman
