A reader offers suggestions for Abu Dhabi's upcoming Hudayriat Island development. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council
A reader offers suggestions for Abu Dhabi's upcoming Hudayriat Island development. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council

A few suggestions for Abu Dhabi’s new development



I was happy to read about the Hudayriat Island development project (Abu Dhabi's island dream on the way to reality, August 18). However, I have a few suggestions. Make it for locals who have small families and insist on a maximum of two cars only per family.

If they want more, they pay a car tax per extra car to the Government. Limit the height of all apartment blocks to a maximum of three floors. 
As in Masdar City, have driverless pods that run on a circuit around the island and stop at grocery stores, the laundry, tailors, pharmacies and mosques, as people cannot drive to the small amenities. Don't build any huge malls; those should only be accessed by car on the mainland. 
Build community centres offering a range of activities: mother and toddler/baby groups; after-school clubs; and lessons on traditional ways of making things to keep the culture alive. 
In the parks, have tennis courts, volleyball, a place for field sports, a couple of gyms with indoor pools. It would also require a women-only beach.
Perhaps this could be the first island where all its buildings are printed in 3D.

Name withheld by request

Abu Dhabi needs affordable and reasonably priced apartments to support its growth plans.

Gerrit Ai, Abu Dhabi

European nations must build infrastructure to support tourism

Create infrastructure to support the growth of tourism (Europeans angry at having to share their cities with millions of tourists, August 17). All of these cities and countries depend heavily on tourists for seasonal job creation.

Shervin Cacchioni, Dubai

Europeans are not angry about all tourists. They are angry about noisy and drunk tourists who show no respect; they are angry about tourist who increase the cost of living for residents.

Frederic Beaugrand, Dubai

Abayas and hijabs are losing their simplicity

Designer abayas and hijabs kill their essence and simplicity (Abayas and kaftans from Dolce & Gabbana's latest collection now at Mall of the Emirates, August 15) . It's sad that we allow such important things of our religion to continue to be used for marketing.

Amina Bashir, UK

Massage parlour owners should be penalised

In many areas of Abu Dhabi, the streets are littered with cards advertising these services (Dubai's sleazy massage card distributors to face deportation under new rules, August 16). Surely it is the establishments offering the services, rather than the distributors of the cards, who should be penalised.

All these cards advertise a telephone number and often a location of the service provider. A penalty of disconnection of phone service could be effective.

Jeremy Weeks, Abu Dhabi

Results

5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 1,000m, Winner: Hazeem Al Raed, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 85,000 (D) 1,000m, Winner: Ghazwan Al Khalediah, Hugo Lebouc, Helal Al Alawi

6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Dinar Al Khalediah, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi.

6.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Faith And Fortune, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Only Smoke, Bernardo Pinheiro, Abdallah Al Hammadi.

7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: AF Ramz, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi.

8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: AF Mass, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

Expert input

If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?

“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett

“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche

“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox

“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite

 “I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy

“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

 

 

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Company%20profile
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed 

Innotech Profile

Date started: 2013

Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari

Based: Muscat, Oman

Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies

Size: 15 full-time employees

Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing 

Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now. 

Company%20Profile
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

The specs

Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6

Power: 400hp

Torque: 475Nm

Transmission: 9-speed automatic

Price: From Dh215,900

On sale: Now

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)