Business focus
Don’t put the brakes on financial reform
- The economic crisis has forced governments and companies to become more accountable and transparent, but what happens when the recovery takes hold?
Oasis
Par excellence
- Today, 60 of the world’s best golfers will open the Greg Norman-designed Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, marking the start of the Dubai World Championship.
When do you tip, and how much do you give?
In the UAE, service staff often rely on tips to bolster their income, which is then sent home to support their family. When do you tip, and how much do you give?
Did you know Salem Saad? Tell us your favourite memory or leave a dedication
The former UAE international Salem Saad, who was just 31 years old, was remembered yesterday as “a son, a brother and a friend” by those who had played with him.
What are you looking forward to seeing at the Dubai Air Show?
The Dubai Air Show, biggest in the Middle East, is now on. What are you looking forward to seeing there?
Who do you think should have priority for a Swine Flu vaccination?
The UAE has taken delivery of its first batch of H1N1 vaccines. Who do you think should have priority for the Swine Flu vaccination?
Should Abu Dhabi build its own recycling plant or send its recyclable material elsewhere?
As Abu Dhabi’s reprocessing programme gets under way, officials admit there are no facilities to deal with some of the waste.
Now that there are more openings at international schools have you reconsidered where your children are enrolled?
A year ago, many expatriate parents in the capital struggled to find places for their children at international schools. With families leaving the country and fewer new pupils more spaces are open in schools
What was the highlight of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for you so far?
The sounds of the race cars or the international superstars?
Did you walk the Yas Marina Circuit? Tell us what it was like.
Fans had their first glimpse of the Yas Marina Circuit ahead of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
What do you enjoy most about living in the UAE?
An international survery has rated the UAE as the best place in the Arab world to live. What do you enjoy most about living in the Emirates?
Should schools be downgraded for the quality of their Arabic teaching?
Some of Dubai’s top schools will be downgraded in the next round of government inspections because of a new emphasis on teaching Arabic. Should such an emphasis be placed on the subject?
Do you think lowering the minimum age for driving would increase road safety?
A senior traffic officer has suggested lowering the minimum age for driving from 18 to 16 after drivers have received 100 hours of practical training. Do you think the plan would increase road safety?
What alternatives do you suggest for plastic bags?
The country is to ban all non-biodegradable plastic bags from 2013, after the revelation that 26,000 tonnes of plastic bags were produced for use in the UAE last year. What alternatives would you suggest? Are biodegradable plastic bags the answer? Will paper bags cause as many environmental problems? Let us know what you think.
Is your building safe from fire? What could be done to make your home safer?
According to latest findings from an ongoing inspection by the Abu Dhabi Department of Planning and Economy, many buildings lack sufficient precautions and procedures in escaping or tackling fires. Some lack basic equipment such as having no fire alarms, faulty electrical or gas appliances or blocked emergency exits. Is your building safe from a fire and what can be done to make your home safer.
Have you visited the F1 Fan Zone? Tell us what you think.
Events at the Formula One FanZone will make the Corniche the place to be leading up to the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Have you encountered poor customer service in restaurants, shops, businesses or other outlets in the UAE?
A team of mystery shoppers sent out by The National to investigate customer service encountered indifferent staff, long queues and, in some cases, poor response to complaints.
Editorials
An opportunity for all business entrepreneurs
While his classmates were studying finance and engineering at universities abroad, Mohammed Saeed Harib was busy taking drawing courses at a liberal arts university in the United States.
One man’s stand against democracy
They came so close. The new Iraqi electoral law was within hours of being ratified, but at the 11th hour Tariq al Hashemi, the Sunni representative on the country’s presidency council, vetoed it.
Handbags at dawn
The celebrated English cartoonist HM Bateman, who specialised in poking gentle fun at people in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing, at the wrong time, would have had a field day at Dubai Mall early yesterday.
Comment
A spiritual analysis of extremism
Jihad Hashim Brown : Westerners need to stop thinking they are celebrities living out pop-modern lives for us on a stage for all their eastern fans to wish they were them.
Your Prophet is your Islam
Omid Safi: Whenever I ask non-Muslims about the Prophet Mohammed: the response is invariably one of deafening silence.
Cold feet as I prepare for journey of a lifetime
Hadeel al Shalchi: By this time next week I hope to be in the final stages of possibly the most challenging duty of my faith – the Haj.
Letters
Brash timing for Israeli settlement expansion
Is it not strange that at a time when the US President Barack Obama is in Asia, the right wing Israeli government informed us that 900 new houses will be built for 3,500 “settlers” in the occupied West Bank?
Arabic news digest
No more room for Arab silence on land grab
After the Israeli minister of interior signed the construction licence for 900 new settlement units in east Jerusalem and the release in Israeli papers of bids for an extra 6,000 units in the West Bank, Arab nations have no more reasons for inaction, wrote Mazen Hammad in the Qatari news daily Al Watan.
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