Omitting street numbers will help no one

A reader argues in favour of the system of numbering streets in Abu Dhabi. Other topics: super grain, driving, Emiratis, Islamic financing

A reader says the new street names will prove unhelpful for commuters. Paul O’driscoll / The National

The National has done a great service by publishing the article Where streets have new names, but lack numbers (March 3) that has attracted the attention of the authorities and fuelled public discussions.

The now-defunct numeric street names had odd numbers for streets parallel to the Corniche and even numbers for streets perpendicular to the Corniche. With this mental map, anyone could relax and drive from the Corniche along Muroor or Airport Road to reach 29th Street, because the road numbers (3, 5, 7, 9, … 29) gave the assurance that 29th Street was a long way to come. Without these numbers on the street signs in the new system, the driver will have no clue whether Rabdan Street (the new name for 29th Street) will be after the next intersection or if it will come after 13 intersections.

Furthermore, the letter size in the new signs is smaller compared to the old ones, making it difficult to read.

The new street signs with long names will remain only as a commemoration of the departed souls and the living legends. It cannot be expected to become part of an address system that people will adopt.

If the idea is that navigation devices will help you reach any address, without requiring you to remember the lengthy and confusing street names, then the 10-digit geo-addresses system that Dubai Municipality is currently implementing for all buildings in the emirate would be the best bet.

Abandoning the numeric street names is a step that will take Abu Dhabi back several years, instead of propelling it to the forefront of the world audience. As you mentioned, the least the authorities could do is to retain the numbers in the beginning of the road names, like 29 Rabdan Street.

NT Unnikrishnan, Abu Dhabi

Numbers do not match the reality

The story Rise of a new super-grain (March 7) refers to yields of the grain called teff of "1.5 million tonnes per hectare" and "two million tonnes per hectare" in Ethiopia.

Those are impressive numbers. Either the world “million” should not be in there, or else the world food crisis is over.

Terence Mulvaney, Abu Dhabi

Don’t show mercy to reckless drivers

I appreciate the lawyers who have launched an appeal to increase the two-month prison sentence for a Brazilian drink driver who killed a British tourist and then tried to flee the country (Prosecutors seek longer sentence for drink driver who killed British tourist on Dubai road, March 6).

Too many people get killed by irresponsible drivers. Through tough sentences the judiciary must convey the right message to those people. Unless the entire society stands up against bad driving practices, the number of road deaths will continue to soar. So please do not show any mercy to people who do not deserve it.

Name withheld by request

Let’s be prepared for the rainy day

The editorial Careers in retail can be truly rewarding (March 7) has rightly pointed out that Emiratis need to look outside the Government sector for career options. In most countries in the world, retail is one of the most popular sectors with a large number of young people looking for career breaks. That is because in those places jobs are not so easily available to citizens. The scenario is different here. It's good that the Government of the UAE is doing so much for its citizens, but people seldom realise the value of something that comes on a platter.

On the other hand, when you get something through hard work, you always cherish it more. It’s this realisation that will help in the personal development of Emiratis. Today we have financial resources, tomorrow we may not have as much. What do we do then? The best idea would be to keep ourselves prepared for the rainy day. Those who do so will never regret.

Cyrus M, Abu Dhabi

Islamic financing is not ‘lending’

This refers to the article Does it make sense for a non-Muslim to take a loan from an Islamic bank? (February 21). Islamic financing is different from lending. Non-Muslims can avail of this facility provided the purpose of borrowing complies with the Sharia.

Islamic banking does not discriminate against clients and invites every individual to participate in a country’s socioeconomic development.

Non-Muslims in an Islamic state or institution enjoy the same rights as Muslims do, provided they follow the Islamic laws in financial and economic matters.

Usuf Hassan, Abu Dhabi