Readers disagree whether Egypt's military is a roadblock or a guarantor of secularism. Odd Andersen / AFP
Readers disagree whether Egypt's military is a roadblock or a guarantor of secularism. Odd Andersen / AFP

Parking system aimed to bring more spaces



This is an official response to Peter Hellyer's article High-tech gadgetry can be bad for your blood pressure (October 11). Abu Dhabi's parking control and management system is intended to ensure maximum use of road spaces for pedestrians, cyclists as well as moving and stationary vehicles.

The introduction of the system in October 2009 has led to improving road safety, eliminating illegal parking activities, improving traffic flow particularly in inner sector roads and significantly increasing the availability of spaces for use by residents, businesses and visitors.

In most cases, the lack of adequate parking was caused by the fact that many businesses and individuals had used the public roads as storage for their vehicles. The road space is designed for moving vehicles and in certain locations for short- or long-term parking.

Abu Dhabi's paid-parking scheme focuses on resolving the unacceptable and inconsiderate parking behaviour, improving road safety and eliminating congestion often caused by irresponsible parking behaviour.

In locations that currently do not experience parking problems, the aim is to prevent the occupation of those parking spaces at the expense of residents and visitors.

The fees were designed to deter illegal and irresponsible parking behaviour; this has been very effective in gaining and maintaining high compliance with parking regulations.

Mawaqif has increased spaces available for public use by constructing additional surface parking in sectors where land is available, utilising road widths while considering road safety standards and re-routing inner sector roads' traffic flow. In Khalidiya, for example, the company added 1,500 parking spaces and increased available spaces to 5,025.

Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi www.dot.abudhabi.ae

Egypt's generals have unclear role

The point Faisal Al Yafai made in his opinion article A revolution rolls on, leaving Egypt's old guard irrelevant (November 29) was very important. The army now runs Egypt and wants to continue running it. It is only a government of the people that can stop them. Too many people have been hurt in Tahrir Square and they are only calling for their legitimate rights.

It is time for Egypt to move on from army rule.

Jeffrey Heal, Cairo

I want to disagree with the article. We have to look at the particular conditions of each country and the conditions in Egypt today are not like other Arab countries.

The army has an important role to play in keeping liberal Egyptians from being overwhelmed by more radical parties.

If the army leaves and a civilian government takes over, that government will be made up mainly of the Muslim Brotherhood.

This would be a disaster for Egypt. It is only the army that can guarantee that will not happen.

Mustafa Ezzat, Dubai

Honour killing not an Islamic issue

I found the headline on Muslim 'honour' attacks in Britain called 'shocking' (December 4) sensationalist. In Islam, there is no such concept. It is more of a cultural phenomenon. It is a clear problem in some communities but the problem cannot be linked to Islam.

In the Indo-Pak subcontinent, this is a cultural phenomenon. It is found among Hindus and Sikhs as well. To highlight it as a Muslim problem is a bit unfair.

Linking so-called "honour" killings to Islam is a bald claim that should have been avoided.

It would have been more fruitful if an Islamic scholar provided proofs (from the various religious texts, etc) against such acts and thus people can be educated in this regard.

Hassan Mallu, Abu Dhabi

Drinking at work illegal everywhere

No drunken behaviour in classroom or any other work place would be acceptable in Europe (Teacher under investigation for drunkenness, November 29). So why did this teacher feel she didn't have to obey the law of the land? Name withheld by request

Child bride stories harm reputation

I refer to the article Popular Turkish soap opera tackles issue of child brides (December 4).

The story of an underage girl from a poor family in Anatolia who is married off to a 70-year-old man is child abuse, sex slavery and human trafficking in the 21st century.

It made me sad and angry. How can a human being not express herself and act according to her own will?

Turkey tries to be a member of European Union but it shows that it is not qualified and has a long way to go before being a part of Europe. Maybe it will never be.

Jin Smith, Abu Dhabi

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our family matters legal consultant

 

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The specs

  Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now

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Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

TO A LAND UNKNOWN

Director: Mahdi Fleifel

Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa

Rating: 4.5/5

Take Me Apart

Kelela

(Warp)

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDual%20synchronous%20electric%20motors%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C108hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C340Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%20(front%20axle)%3B%20two-speed%20transmission%20(rear%20axle)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E488-560km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh928%2C400%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOrders%20open%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Race card:

6.30pm: Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh195,000 1,400m.

7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m.

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 1,200m.

8.15pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 1,200m.

8.50pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 1,600m.

9.20pm: Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m.

10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 2,000m.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Mobile phone packages comparison
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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).

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

What is double taxation?
  • Americans living abroad file taxes with the Internal Revenue Service, which can cost hundreds of dollars to complete even though about 60 per cent do not owe taxes, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service
  • Those obligations apply to millions of Americans residing overseas – estimates range from 3.9 million to 5.5 million – including so-called "accidental Americans" who are unaware they hold dual citizenship
  • The double taxation policy has been a contentious issue for decades, with many overseas Americans feeling that it punishes them for pursuing opportunities abroad
  • Unlike most countries, the US follows a citizenship-based taxation system, meaning that Americans must file taxes annually, even if they do not earn any income in the US.
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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
Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20myZoi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Syed%20Ali%2C%20Christian%20Buchholz%2C%20Shanawaz%20Rouf%2C%20Arsalan%20Siddiqui%2C%20Nabid%20Hassan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2037%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Initial%20undisclosed%20funding%20from%20SC%20Ventures%3B%20second%20round%20of%20funding%20totalling%20%2414%20million%20from%20a%20consortium%20of%20SBI%2C%20a%20Japanese%20VC%20firm%2C%20and%20SC%20Venture%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Results

4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m; Winner: MM Al Balqaa, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Qaiss Aboud (trainer)

5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: AF Rasam, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mujeeb, Richard Mullen, Salem Al Ketbi

6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud

7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Pat Dobbs, Ibrahim Aseel

7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Nibraas, Richard Mullen, Nicholas Bachalard