From the Editors: Housing package for UAE citizens is perfect Eid gift

HOUSING PACKAGE FOR UAE CITIZENS IS PERFECT EID GIFT: More than 4,000 Emiratis in Dubai are set to benefit from a new Dh6 billion-plus housing package of residential units and plots of land. Wishing the citizens a happy Eid in advance was no other than His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who approved the housing package on Sunday. The fact that he will personally follow up on the housing sector shows the great care the UAE has for its citizens. The latest announcement follows an approval earlier this year of Dh600 million in housing loans, indicating that the welfare of people is the government’s priority. [COMMENT BY: Faisal Masudi, Assistant Editor]

CASH IN- THE DOLLAR’S GAINING: For a good number of UAE’s expats, this is the time to make full use of the dollar’s strength. Any doubts? Check your currency’s status against the all-conquering dollar, and you will see they are in slide mode. And come May 3-4, it could get more pronounced, with the US Federal Reserve all set to hike interest rates up. This will only have global investors rushing to a vitalised dollar. Much of this is already apparent, with a swathe of EM currencies under the cosh. As for UAE’s expats, what all this means is to make full use and keep the remittance channels buzzing. Ride the dollar wave. [COMMENT BY: Manoj Nair, Business Editor]

REAL ON VERGE OF TITLE AS BARC LOSE THIRD CONSECUTIVE HOME MATCH: For only the second time in their history Spanish giants Barcelona have suffered a third consecutive home defeat. They went down 1-0 against Rayo Vallecano in the Nou Camp La Liga clash and it means rivals Real Madrid should now almost certainly win the title. In fact Carlo Ancelotti’s team just require one point from five matches to be crowned champions. They play Espanyol next weekend and could be celebrating their record 35th Spanish title come full time. Barca lost at home against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League quarter-finals and then Cadiz in La Liga before slipping to their latest defeat to Rayo. The last time this happened was over 20 years ago and although Xavi’s side should still secure a top-four spot to guarantee them Champions League football the team will need to improve performances next season to mount a serious title challenge. [COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Sports Editor]

SACHIN TENDULKAR’S DAUGHTER SARA-ARMED WITH A MEDICAL- BECOMES ANOTHER ACTOR HOPEFUL? Bollywood is notorious for being nepotistic and giving a wider berth to those who are born into acting or powerful dynasties. We hear that cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar’s daughter Sara, who is armed with a medical degree from a reputed college in the United Kingdom, has her eyes on Bollywood. While we are all for young girls pursuing their ambitions, it makes you wonder if this young lady has unwittingly robbed a worthy doctor hopeful of a seat in a medical college. But that’s one way to look at it. If you really think about it, Sara might be emblematic of women having a solid degree before plunging into show business which is blatantly fickle and unpredictable. Her eyes are on the ball, dare we say? [COMMENT BY: Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Assistant Editor Features]