How to be happy: the UAE holds the secret

Readers have their say on government initiatives, property investment, and Erdogan's visit to Italy

General view of Dubai and Dubai Frame. Tom Dulat / Getty Images

With reference to your article Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid reveals Dh7 billion housing plan for Emiratis (February 4), people often wonder why UAE citizens are happy and why the country is safe. Well, this is what happens when you take care of your people – simple.

Nicola Siotto, Dubai

This is a great initiative by the Ruler of Dubai to help the citizens of the UAE. Keep up the good work.

Zia ul Haq Abdul Azeez, United Kingdom

Job worries make me concerned about investing in property 

I write in reference to your article Why every long-term expat should buy a property in the UAE (February 5): job security is a big problem. If I don't have my job tomorrow, my visa goes and so does the security of paying the monthly installments. The UAE needs organic growth, where people with families live and grow over generations. I agree that no risk means no gain but this feels too big a risk. The fear of losing your job and with it, school fees, monthly installments and visa uncertainties means all your savings could just vanish.

Esha Nag, Dubai

Invest in properties in your own country and while you are here, rent them out so they pay for your investment while you are working here. By definition expatriates will leave at some point so having a property or properties in your own country is the best advice, especially if it is rented out.

Gary Hazel, Abu Dhabi

The Pope shows Erdogan the path to peace

I refer to your article Rome bans protests ahead of Erdogan's meeting with pope (February 5): Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to the Vatican City, the first by a Turkish head of state to the Holy See in almost 60 years, is a dramatic development. The Pope presented a bronze medallion engraved with an angel embracing the world while fighting a dragon. This symbol of peace, with an angel fighting a demon of war, indicates that he wants to pass on a message of peace, not only in the Middle East but all over the world.

K Ragavan, India

Market forces are at work for India's farmers

In reference to your article Modi unveils pre-election budget in bid to woo voters (February 1), it is farmers who will be most affected. Currently the farmer takes his stocks of wheat to the district procurement centre. The officials will reject the stock or delay the purchase on some flimsy grounds like saying that parts of the wheat crop are wet or infested. The farmer then has to stand in long, serpentine queues of trailers and bullock carts waiting for some remedy. He is then approached by some brokers who will take a 20 per cent commission, get the documents signed by him and arrange the sale. These brokers are in collusion with some procurement officials and then they split the 20 per cent commission. The farmer thus loses 20 per cent of his earnings on the spot.

The farmer comes under greater pressure if he is selling vegetables like tomatoes, which will rot if there is a delay of two or three days in selling them. Hopefully their earnings will improve under new legislation and they will get a fairer deal.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai