Regarding your report on personal finance (Personal debt again proving a burdensome load in UAE, April 15), the major problem expatriates have here is the difference in how lenders behave. In many countries, lenders are prudent when issuing credit cards and personal loans. In most cases, an applicant will need a personal guarantor to cover debts.
This doesn’t happen here. As soon as you open a bank account, lenders begin calling with offers of credit cards and personal loans that can sometimes exceed four times your salary.
This presents a challenge to new residents who don’t have self-control when it comes to credit and debt. The temptation is hard to resist but people must remember that they should be saving money instead of spending it while they are living in the Gulf.
Bernard Vallely, UK
The person quoted in this story was able to take out a loan 20 times his salary. It is doubtful that a company would be aware of such a loan and therefore I don’t think that his human resources department will be able to help mediate with the lender.
When it comes to finance, the best advice is to live within your means and seek professional advice before making big financial decisions.
Jase White, Dubai
Money, like most things in life, is a matter of self-discipline.
Marcos Camza-Peyes, Dubai
A well-behaved performance
I am writing with regard to your review of Lang Lang in concert (Lang Lang brings classical music to life in expressive performance, April 15). At Friday night's sell-out concert at Emirates Palace by the awesome Lang Lang, you could have heard a pin drop throughout the entire performance. The audience was very well behaved.
In addition, the event was well organised. A big thank you to ADMAF for bringing us another world class performer.
Helen Brawn, Abu Dhabi
New rent fees hit close to home
I am writing about the rent fees (New 3% municipality fee on Abu Dhabi expat rentals could give government Dh612m boost, April 14). The country needs to make money in some way.
Moreover, it was never a tax-free country, only an income tax-free country.
If you look closely there are many taxes and in some respects, we have more taxes than in other parts of the world.
John Paravalos, Dubai
This new fee might force people to leave the country. Many people live here because of what they gain without the income tax burden.
Now it seems that people are losing more here than they gain. That’s why there is such a high level of expats leaving, which appears to be happening over the last two years.
Sammy Evans, Abu Dhabi
It seems as though you can’t live off of oil revenue for ever, especially when prices are low for a long time. It makes sense that other revenue streams are explored.
Jack Meman, UK
Efficiency in the economy
I found your report on retirement thoughtful and interesting (Recruitment more selective in UAE due to low oil price, experts say, April 14).
Undoubtedly there is no substitute for experience and with companies trying to minimise cost while optimising output they are paying more attention to employees who work smarter and not harder.
From my experience, I was able to secure senior management positions by writing a business plan to grow the company’s revenues.
I was, however, able to add real value by explaining in detail how I planned to execute the plan, which is always the toughest part. We need to see more of this across the economy.
Randall Mohammed, Dubai
How to properly identify autism
I am writing about your piece on autism and how it is identified (UAE children are being misdiagnosed with autism, April 15). I always thought it took a panel of people to diagnose autism because it can be very difficult for one person to be objective and to spot all the signs.
Katie Blackmore, UK
Sadly, misdiagnosis is common around the world. Parents must be the first to check for early signs because each child is different and unique. Without the active participation of parents, proper diagnoisis of autism is impossible.
Mitchelle Fernandes, Dubai
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
The%20specs
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A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
INVESTMENT PLEDGES
Cartlow: $13.4m
Rabbitmart: $14m
Smileneo: $5.8m
Soum: $4m
imVentures: $100m
Plug and Play: $25m
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.
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Schedule:
Pakistan v Sri Lanka:
28 Sep-2 Oct, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi
6-10 Oct, 2nd Test (day-night), Dubai
13 Oct, 1st ODI, Dubai
16 Oct, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi
18 Oct, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi
20 Oct, 4th ODI, Sharjah
23 Oct, 5th ODI, Sharjah
26 Oct, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
27 Oct, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
29 Oct, 3rd T20I, Lahore
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What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Kanye%20West
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How to vote in the UAE
1) Download your ballot https://www.fvap.gov/
2) Take it to the US Embassy
3) Deadline is October 15
4) The embassy will ensure all ballots reach the US in time for the November 3 poll
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
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