Last year’s storm still fresh in memories

Readers recall the Great Storm that barttered the UAE on March 9 last year. Other topics: VAT, Emiratis, building safety, Lionel Messi

Readers recall the day last year when the country was battered by a storm. Delores Johnson / The National

To talk about my memories last year when the UAE was battered by a storm, I was watching people trying to drive at 80kph through half a metre of water, then pulling off the road as their engines seized (The UAE's Great Storm, a year later, March 9). These puzzled guys with their ruined engines amused me no end.

Paul Martin, Al Ain

After four tries, I passed my final driving exam on that day, March 9, at Mussaffah, just before the rain started.

Because was I too excited, I remember not going home without my licence card despite heavy rain and flooded streets. I got stranded at Mushrif Mall, as there were no buses or taxis. I had to call a friend to drop me home. It was scary with so many trees falling everywhere. The area around my building was flooded.

Aimee Buscato Paragas, Abu Dhabi

I kept my car safe by driving it to a mall car park, then walked about two kilometres to work in the storm. Thanks to random luck and my instinct for avoiding large pieces of construction material and flying objects, I made it back to work in one piece, where colleagues had congregated around the core of the building away from the billowing sheet-glass clad sides.

Sammie Wai, Abu Dhabi

The sky was such a weird colour. It was a great evening for outdoor photography once the storm had cleared.

Lisa Kereliuk, Abu Dhabi

That was a scary day with windows rattling, clothes flying off balconies and glass doors shattering.

Nicole Simoes, Abu Dhabi

We will feel the pinch after VAT

All expats will feel the pinch when the VAT is introduced (Who should worry most about VAT in the UAE?, March 8). First came the municipality tax. Now the VAT. Yet salaries remain the same. Many are talking about leaving, but that's easier said than done as many of them have families here. It's difficult to uproot yourself all of a sudden.

This means we will bear the burden. Housing is the biggest problem. If a property is affordable, it is usually in an area that’s for families – usually far from the city with few services available near by. Liveable areas are too expensive for us.

Jean Francoise Ng Lewis, Abu Dhabi

The Government needs to be extremely careful with what it does. So if I go to a hotel I will pay 20 per cent plus 5 per cent VAT.

Expatriate salaries are stagnant while school fees and other expenses are increasing.

Robert Bradley, Dubai

Expectations must be realistic

I refer to the news item Emiratis should be encouraged to move away from studies in business, experts say (March 9). Not just here, but young people the world over have unrealistic expectations. They need to appreciate that their parents' generation worked for decades for the money and wealth they have. It did not get handed over to any of us on a plate so to speak.

Tanya Milbourne, Dubai

Report safety code violation

What Palm Jumeirah residents are complaining about is surely a safety code violation (Palm Jumeirah residents say developer is being 'negligent' on fire safety precautions, March 8). They need to report it to the civil defence and ask how they are supposed to carry out an evacuation in the event of a fire.

Name withheld by request

History doesn’t appeal to all

Not everybody is educated enough to understand this ancient place (Egypt archaeologist calls Lionel Messi an idiot for not showing interest in pyramids, March 9). Plus Messi is a footballer. His world is different. History and archaeology may not interest him.

Name withheld by request

Some people react differently to the Pyramids. Not everyone’s jaw drops to the ground and not everyone wants to take millions of selfies.

Sarah Florentina Nitu, Dubai