After an accident a few years back caused me to use a wheelchair to get round Al Ain during my recuperation, I am in a position to fully appreciate the initiative described in your story (Dubai Municipality to make all parks disabled friendly, July 20) .
My experience allows me to state categorically that those who build wheelchair ramps in this region obviously have never attempted to use a wheelchair or else they would have realised the gradients of most ramps are impossible to climb and dangerous to ascend solo.
They are also usually quite narrow, with ledges I would not like to fall from due to the impossible gradient of the slope.
Furthermore, while the beautiful shiny floors found in malls may be aesthetically pleasing to able-bodied people, they make it difficult to move freely around them because of the minimal traction between smooth wheelchair tyres and shiny mall floors. Making progress was an extremely frustrating and exhausting experience.
Name withheld by request
This decision by the municipality is long overdue. It should be extended to include making all buildings accessible to disabled people as well.
Nicola Jane Ablett, Ras Al Khaimah
It is very sad to read that an accident of the kind described in your article (38 workers injured in Sharjah bus crash, July 22) has happened on our roads once again.
Looking at the efforts by the authorities to prevent such accidents and the results achieved thus far, it is promising to note that they have become less frequent.
However, in order to get even better results, there is one option that ought to be implemented. The law should be amended to give no leeway above the stated speed limit for drivers of commercial or public transport vehicles. This would include 15-seater vans and minibuses, as well as full-size buses and trucks.
If enforced correctly and with strict punishment for drivers who breach it, this law ought to result in fewer accidents due to speeding and negligence.
In conjunction with this, all transport companies should be required to give their drivers training and to update their road-safety awareness skills.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
Anyone whose driving causes an accident like this should have their licence taken away for two years.
That will get them off the road and give them an incentive to drive correctly afterwards.
Thalia Fever, Al Ain
Nothing wrong in UAE’s US alliance
Some of those who read your article (Palestinians seek refuge in Gaza's Shifa Hospital under Israel's unrelenting fire, July 21) have responded by blaming the UAE because of its alliance with the US, which supports Israel.
Did they not read the article or follow the news? The UAE has donated millions to Gaza – now, yesterday, and will go on to do so tomorrow and into the future.
Yes, we are in alliance with the US and with Christians and many other countries and religions. I want to know just what’s wrong with that?
Mustafa Al Aidarous, Dubai
Muslims, Christians and Jews used to live in peace and harmony in Palestine until the arrival of the Zionists, who were mostly from Europe.
They established their project through massacres like at Deir Yassin and by expelling Palestinians from their homes.
Alaa Khalil, Dubai
Zionism has spent the past century strategically dispossessing the Palestinian people.
It has ignored their just claims and subjected them to persecution, torture, rape and cold-blooded murder. Those who seek to justify what Israel has been doing in Gaza are supporting that.
Sydra Malik, Dubai
Muslim elders must speak for everyone
We need the unity that is offered by the formation of this council (Muslim Council wants to try to end deaths around world, July 22).
The most important point is that they address young Muslims. They also have to include all Muslims, from all different groups, not favouring one over another or ignoring anyone. This is the only way this initiative will work.
Dhafar Al Faisal, UAE
MH17 must not be a political football
Your editorial (Blame-shifting is no help to those grieving the MH17 victims, July 22) made a series of meaningful points.
Blaming others is not going to help the victims’ families. An independent investigation has to establish the truth about what happened and to punish those who are responsible.
K Ragavan, US
UAE%20SQUAD
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How to get exposure to gold
Although you can buy gold easily on the Dubai markets, the problem with buying physical bars, coins or jewellery is that you then have storage, security and insurance issues.
A far easier option is to invest in a low-cost exchange traded fund (ETF) that invests in the precious metal instead, for example, ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU) and iShares Physical Gold (SGLN) both track physical gold. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF invests directly in mining companies.
Alternatively, BlackRock Gold & General seeks to achieve long-term capital growth primarily through an actively managed portfolio of gold mining, commodity and precious-metal related shares. Its largest portfolio holdings include gold miners Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold Corp, Agnico Eagle Mines and the NewMont Goldcorp.
Brave investors could take on the added risk of buying individual gold mining stocks, many of which have performed wonderfully well lately.
London-listed Centamin is up more than 70 per cent in just three months, although in a sign of its volatility, it is down 5 per cent on two years ago. Trans-Siberian Gold, listed on London's alternative investment market (AIM) for small stocks, has seen its share price almost quadruple from 34p to 124p over the same period, but do not assume this kind of runaway growth can continue for long
However, buying individual equities like these is highly risky, as their share prices can crash just as quickly, which isn't what what you want from a supposedly safe haven.
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
Mumbai Indians 213/6 (20 ov)
Royal Challengers Bangalore 167/8 (20 ov)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
What you as a drone operator need to know
A permit and licence is required to fly a drone legally in Dubai.
Sanad Academy is the United Arab Emirate’s first RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) training and certification specialists endorsed by the Dubai Civil Aviation authority.
It is responsible to train, test and certify drone operators and drones in UAE with DCAA Endorsement.
“We are teaching people how to fly in accordance with the laws of the UAE,” said Ahmad Al Hamadi, a trainer at Sanad.
“We can show how the aircraft work and how they are operated. They are relatively easy to use, but they need responsible pilots.
“Pilots have to be mature. They are given a map of where they can and can’t fly in the UAE and we make these points clear in the lectures we give.
“You cannot fly a drone without registration under any circumstances.”
Larger drones are harder to fly, and have a different response to location control. There are no brakes in the air, so the larger drones have more power.
The Sanad Academy has a designated area to fly off the Al Ain Road near Skydive Dubai to show pilots how to fly responsibly.
“As UAS technology becomes mainstream, it is important to build wider awareness on how to integrate it into commerce and our personal lives,” said Major General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police.
“Operators must undergo proper training and certification to ensure safety and compliance.
“Dubai’s airspace will undoubtedly experience increased traffic as UAS innovations become commonplace, the Forum allows commercial users to learn of best practice applications to implement UAS safely and legally, while benefitting a whole range of industries.”
More about Middle East geopolitics
