The idea of putting a lot more emphasis on customer service is a very sound one (Hands-on response to bad service, October 3).
In my experience customer service in the UAE is often quite a lot better than in western countries where I have lived. Where I have the biggest problem is not with waiters or sales clerks, but with bureaucrats in big institutions such as banks and utility companies, where personal responsibility is diluted.
For smaller companies the solution, I think, lies with managers, who must provide good training, set out clear expectations and follow-up to show employees that they mean it when they say "the customer comes first."
For big outfits the decisions about customer service are made at a very high level and that sets the corporate culture, and there's not much consumers can do about it.
Mike Rourke, Abu Dhabi
Thank you for that article. What my wife and I have found is that after just a few visits, store clerks and restaurant staff become quite welcoming in this country, sometimes too much so.
I found it odd when a good and friendly waiter in one well-known restaurant asked to exchange cellphone numbers with me.
I thought it a little odd but, not wanting to give offence, did give him my number. He hasn't used it yet so I now think this was just a gesture of courtesy. Nothing like that would happen in the West.
David Nelson, Dubai
Article, like BBC, London-centric
Your opinion article The BBC jumps on the bandwagon headed out of London (October 2) was too London-centric, and shows why the Beeb is moving to other locations around Britain.
For too long the rest of Britain has had to suffer with a news service that doesn't reflect what's going on in their communities. Your south-east born and bred writer may get nostalgic about the deterioration of buildings in London but he should try visiting other areas of Britain that have suffered far more over the years and particularly now during the global downturn.
The decentralisation of the Beeb to make it truly British is the correct thing to do and that column shows why it must happen. Londoners may not understand but the rest of Britain does.
Stephen MacComber, Dubai
Israel's Netanyahu takes us for fools
I am in absolute agreement with James Zogby's comments (Netanyahu barely bothers to pretend to care about peace, October 2).
Just by saying he has dealt with the peace process doesn't make it happen, unless action speaks louder than words and not the other way around.
It is high time that Mr Netanyahu understands that the world out there is not full of fools.
Name withheld by request.
Glad to learn DSG will continue
It was very good to read that the Dubai School of Government will continue to operate (School of government relicensed, October 3).
The DSG has had its problems lately but is an invaluable resource. Every society needs clear-eyed analysis of itself and its system, and the DSG is fully capable of providing that.
I hope the institution can function with as much vigour as previously, and go on to even greater things in the future.
Lawrence Parrish, Dubai
Trollope should focus on Trollope
Your writer was correct that there has been a lot written over the years about the work of Jane Austen (Jane Austen the ultimate undead writer?, October 2).
Even Rudyard Kipling wrote a story, The Janeites, about how what we would now call Austen "fandom" unites people of all classes.
But it's strange that Joanna Trollope, a fine writer, is on this bandwagon. Shouldn't she be obsessed with Anthony Trollope instead?
Caroline MacCurdy, UK
Strange to see gold price falling
I find it confusing that at a time of great financial-market turmoil, the price of gold has been falling sharply (Gold tumble leaves analysts unruffled, October 3).
I have always understood that when every other kind of investment was shaky and the world was full of turmoil, that gold could be counted on to gain value.
The explanation in your article was unconvincing. The risk of inflation is as great as ever, not immediately but over the next few years governments will be temped to inflate their way out of debt. And anyone who thinks the US dollar is really "strong" just hasn't been paying attention.
If we can't rely on gold as a store of value, what else is there?
Adam Aloisio, Dubai
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Tottenham Hotspur 0 Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 55')
Man of the Match Allan (Everton)
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
RIDE%20ON
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Larry%20Yang%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Jackie%20Chan%2C%20Liu%20Haocun%2C%20Kevin%20Guo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
