It's time the authorities shut down the animal markets in Abu Dhabi (Shop in Dubai that sold sick dogs has live animals licence suspended, May 12). To see miserable baby foxes and African meerkats in poor conditions is awful. Step up authorities – why should these poor wild animals be on sale? Leave them in the wild.
Carla Botha, Dubai
The UAE should not allow pet shops to operate. There are too many abandoned animals in this country.
Julie Cousins, Dubai
Emirates needs strategy shift
Regarding the story Emirates group full year profit falls 70 per cent as airline grapples with higher costs and reduced fares (May 12), the airline's marketing strategy is aggressive and impressive, but its prices are still steep.
Tiffany Malnar, Abu Dhabi
Operating costs are way too high. It needs to make airfares more attractive to the customer, work on customer retention and trim unnecessary marketing costs.
If Emirates concentrates on bringing the airline back to grass roots, then profitability will follow.
Sam Clarke, Dubai
Fares are way too expensive. Many expatriates fly other airlines for half the price.
Sylvia Moore, Dubai
Doing business here is not easy
I looked at opening a business on Reem Island a few years ago (Mall rent hikes may force retailers to go online, May 9). Khidmah wanted Dh250,000 for a fit out that would cost maximum Dh30,000.
So perhaps the reason is down to companies such as this that are putting massive pressure on a business before it even starts.
Robert Bradley, Abu Dhabi
Driver behaviour is main problem
In reference to the article Greater police presence and new technologies needed to reduce drivers' speed (May 12), I think speed is one problem. But the main issue is the behaviour of many motorists who don't respect the law and don't show any education.
For example, they take exits at the very last moment, accelerate when you want to change the lane, because they don’t accept you being before them, change lanes without using the indicator and tailgate. This behaviour is dangerous. In Germany, on many highways, there are no speed limits. Yet accidents are rare, because drivers respect the law.
Frederic Beaugrand, Dubai
The only people that I see consistently speeding are the ones driving Nissan Patrols, Range Rovers and Land Cruisers. They will not stop speeding even if you change the law.
Jaques Grisham, Dubai
Funny. We’ve been saying that for years, but they need highly paid “experts” to see the obvious.
Wiltrud Matthes, Dubai
Expats in Kuwait under pressure
In reference to your news report Pressure on expats as Kuwaitis face economic squeeze, half of Kuwait's GDP and 90 per cent of government income comes from petroleum. If its economy is not diversified and there are few other sources to grow the economy, why blame expatriates?
Name withheld by request
How are expatriates a drain on public resources? They don’t get publicly funded education, or healthcare and housing allowances.
Chris Reid, Dubai
