New retirement law will change the face of the UAE

Our readers have their say about retirement visas, four-day working weeks and Indian clinical trials

Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, overseeing a Cabinet meeting in 2018. Wam

Regarding your story Is the UAE's new five-year visa a game-changer for retirement? (September 17), I appreciate the announcement made by the UAE Cabinet to allow people to stay in the UAE after retirement, if they fulfil certain financial criteria. It will definitely be a boost to the UAE economy and to the property industry here.

Many foreign residents who cannot stay in their native country for various reasons will accept this proposal wholeheartedly. And many aged residents who bought property might now qualify for visas. One of the main challenges faced by aged residents is the high cost of health insurance.

If there could be some concessions for senior citizens in medical insurance, this new offer will be very attractive to many.

As a financial consultant and someone promoting business opportunities to Indian residents based in the UAE for nearly 40 years, I have found many people return to their countries at a certain age halfheartedly, because they had no choice before.

Within minutes of the announcement being made, I was already receiving calls from Indian investors wanting to buy property in the UAE.

I can only conclude this is a great initiative that will change the face of the UAE.

KV Shamsudheen, Dubai

All play and no work will only lead to greater stress

With reference to your editorial A three-day weekend could boost productivity all round (September 13), I still recall years back when the weekend constituted Thursday and Friday. Then the current system was implemented in the UAE, where Fridays and Saturdays became the weekend.

I think a two-day weekend is more than enough. Why ask for more? You need to balance your time and not just relax 365 days a year.

To enjoy the good life, you need to work hard and earn money.

Proper planning goes into enjoying a decent lifestyle. In addition, we have ample public holidays already so we should consider how blessed we really are here.

I totally disagree with a three-day weekend. Imagine getting back to work afterwards and facing all the work pending.

It will just lead to poor time management and bad working practice, leading to employees getting more stressed, frustrated and having to stay back later on working days. It will achieve nothing and ruin their  health.

Mathew Litty, Dubai

No one should have to die in the name of medical research

In reference to your story Thousands of Indians die in unethical clinical trials (September 18), Samanth Subramanian's article on the drug trials that went on for 12 years was an interesting read.

In the past decade, many innocent Indians have sadly died and some have suffered adverse reactions.

Despite that, few have been compensated and the practice has now been condemned.

Hopefully the government will implement strict regulations in future for pharmaceutical companies to follow.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru