On August 10, my wife and I applied for our UAE ID cards at Infinity Services at Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi. Though we waited there several hours to complete the application process and paid a total of Dh770, after almost three months we still have not received our ID cards, nor has anyone contacted us about them.
Since mid-September, we have phoned the Emirates Identity Authority office four times and filed complaints, but when I phoned again this morning to inquire about our ID cards, the customer service representative told me they have no record of our past complaints. As with initiating any large government programme, before officials at the Emirates Identity Authority require UAE nationals and residents to obtain a UAE identity card, they should first ensure that the application process is at least somewhat efficient and hassle free.
Qani Belul, Abu Dhabi
Iran's influence grows constantly
I refer to the editorial What is the logic behind Iran's strategy? (November 4). The mindset of this article is from a completely western perspective, not taking into account that other cultures sometimes think quite differently. There is plenty of logic behind Iran's mentality as it is slowly usurping the West's foothold in the Middle East.
Country by country is falling under the long arm of Iran, from Syria to Gaza to Iraq to Lebanon. After a millennia of subservience to the West, the Muslims finally have a proud flag-bearer of Islam who is not afraid to stand up to the West. Furthermore, every time Iran chooses to commit an antagonistic action, the West retreats.
JC, Abu Dhabi
Broadband is pricey and slow
In reference to the broadband article High-speed access earns high marks (November 3), I've used broadband in many parts of the world and have always found it to be far faster than even my recently upgraded service in the UAE.
Maybe a higher percentage of the population have broadband installed at home than elsewhere in the world but another aspect that should be considered is the very high price we pay here in the Emirates for broadband access compared to subscribers in the US, UK and the rest of Europe. Over-priced and far too slow is how most people I know rate internet access here.
Kate M, Abu Dhabi
Build it but they may not come
I refer to the business article about Abu Dhabi's second largest developer, Sorouh hit hard as profits take a dive (November 2). Anyone can offer a product but who will buy it unless the market needs it? This is a basic concept in marketing: give what the market wants.
"Build it and they will come" and creating "a highly urbanised environment" have been a way to jack up prices when their actual worth is much less. The boom between 2003 and 2007 was not real. It was driven by speculators and computer graphics.
Even today when you deeply study the various projects being announced, it will be a sad finding: few new industries, only sophisticated, high-end, luxury-oriented buildings everywhere. This is certainly not how an economy is built.
Dr KB Vijayakumar, Dubai
Of Newcastle and Gavaskar
The sports article Gavaskar has got the right to ask for pay (November 1) was interesting to read. As per the great cricketer Sunil Gavaskar's version, he should get 20 million rupees (Dh1.6 million) from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
This was a shocking news to the BCCI. We must wait and see whether this is a genuine claim from Gavaskar. Ultimately one can easily accept that cricket is not just about huge money, but very, very huge money - all created by the cricket fans.
K Ragavan, India
****
The sports story Hughton rises above cynicism with real class (November 2) was a great article about a wonderful professional football coach.
As a Newcastle fan, I don't know how these rumours of Hughton's job not being safe have come about.
Richard Havelock, Abu Dhabi
No limits, only suggestions
I refer to Police raise speed limits to make roads safer (October 25). There are no speed "limit" signs in the UAE, only speed "suggestion" signs. Everyone knows that speeding 20kph over the limit is permissible. The problem is not the speed limit. It's the enforcement of it. The difference between a collision at 60kph and 80kph is horrendous.
Donald Glass, Abu Dhabi
