The frustrations of the author of the article Dubai Marina needs urgent artery surgery (April 23) have been shared by every single Dubai Marina resident I have spoken to.
The solution to this problem is simple and requires no spending by RTA or any other body. Simply allow the left and u-turns again.
I understand that the concern is careless motorists who may drive into the tram. For that, I suggest having parking barrier gates at traffic lights, to be used when the tram is passing. Otherwise they will be lifted. I am sure that the service fees paid to developers in the area can go towards this small capital expenditure. Perhaps the community housing associations can work on this.
Hisham Jamal, Dubai
The article is spot on. The noisy cars speeding through the roads coupled with the absurdly noisy motorbikes rattling the neighbourhood make it almost impossible to sleep some nights. This is a residential area after all.
Sid Menon, Dubai
Why chase only ‘outsiders’?
Further to your article regarding Navinder Singh Sarao (Alleged 'Flash Crash' UK trader arrested on US fraud charges, April 23), it is interesting how the US financial regulators are chasing people and institutions outside their country and not those at home.
The people behind the biggest financial crisis since 1929 – bankers, brokers, mortgage brokers and investment companies – who are based in the United States do not appear to have been chased, found or prosecuted for the havoc they caused around the world. Fanny Mae, Goldman Sachs are some of the examples. They destroyed lives, businesses and countries with their greed.
Why does the US government not prosecute their own people before prosecuting someone who lives with his parents in a suburb of London and who doesn’t appear to have affected the lives of millions around the world? In fact, I would think his name wasn’t known to most of the people before it popped up in the newspapers recently.
Name withheld by request
Illegals are Europe’s burden
With unemployment high in so many places in Europe, the last thing it needs is more immigrants to flood the job market, welfare system and prisons (The rich world cannot live in an anti-migrant fortress, April 23).
Besides that, there is the problem of the sovereignty of the countries that, at one point, accepted them willy nilly. These migrants are threatening the security of the countries they arrive at.
Valeriu Crainic, Dubai
They could do much more in Europe. Among the EU, Germany and Sweden should be the quantitative benchmark for other member states. I am happy to see the reference to international conventions, which are legally and morally binding for all signatories in Europe and elsewhere.
Tobias Falk, Dubai
It’s a huge burden that no one country has resources enough to solve. It must be solved by the United Nations.
Patricia Estep, US
More than 10,000 illegal immigrants have landed in Greece and Italy since December of last year (Militarising the Mediterranean won't solve the migrant issue, April 28). So I think military presence in the Mediterranean will help.
Those countries don’t have the resources to support illegal immigrants.
John Paravalos, Dubai
Move on cyclists a sensible one
I think Dubai's move to ban cyclists from riding on major roads is wise (Bicycles banned from major roads, April 27). I see cyclists going in the opposite direction on highways. It's better to be safe than sorry.
Jen Bishop, Abu Dhabi
Drivers who think the roads are a Grand Prix racing track should be fined, while the authorities should build more bike lanes.
Sell more bikes and start a campaign to promote healthy living.
Anders Udo, Dubai
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Emergency
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
