Young marriage
I think the high divorce rate is a result of arrogance and lack of compromise ("Dubai programme aims to avert divorce, reduce spinsterhood," Gulf News, November 3). I also think that getting married at a young age may be a reason for conflict and divorce. A successful marriage is based on trust and compromise.
From Ms Kauser
Dubai
Long work hours
I do agree that divorce rates are increasing by the day. Prices are rising so much that many couples are forced to work for long hours, leaving them with less time to spend together and with their families. This increases conflicts and could certainly lead to divorce.
From Ms Greta
Mumbai, India
Unpredictable
In my opinion, the unpredictable nature of women is the main reason for conflict and divorce.
From Mr Keshab Mishra
Dubai
Varied reasons
I think there are many reasons for a high divorce rate. It could be different expectations, a fast lifestyle or the fact that both partners need to work day and night to be able to provide for their family, especially with the current state of inflation. A book could be published about this. It could state the different causes and ways of preventing divorce.
From Ms S. Maheen Fatima
Ajman
Key elements
Affection, understanding, faith, love and respect are the key elements of a successful marriage. Nowadays, couples tend to expect a lot and get impatient rather quickly. These things might be some of the causes for a high rate.
From Ms Farheen
Dubai
Based on trust
A successful marriage is entirely based on trust, honesty, respect and love for each other. Any relationship based on trust will never have two people misguided. They would never go away from each other.
From Ms Fatima M.
Dubai
Fear factor
Divorce is high amongst young people, because they have neglected their faith and belief and probably no longer fear God. Changing ethos has nothing to do with the institution of marriage.
From Ms Igho Eguonor
Maine, USA
Finance matters
In a place like Dubai, this issue certainly needs attention. Many newlyweds are unable to fulfil their requirements due to rising costs of living and as such conflicts might arise. Financial security is definitely one of the main factors that can determine a successful marriage.
From Ms Kavita
Dubai
Shocked
I am appalled by the report on Christian Louboutin ("Christian Louboutin brings sole to Dubai", Gulf News, November 1). How can somebody assume that women are vacuous and shallow enough to choose fashion over active participation in shaping the future of their country? The statement - "If given the choice - many women would choose Louboutin" - is damaging to a woman's impression and society's view of her participation in society.
From Ms Clare Mahoney
Dubai
Editor's note: The story is factually accurate and the style of writing used hyperbole. It is, in no way, meant to undermine women's contribution, over the centuries, to society or their participation in it.
Affecting health
On visiting a mall, in Dubai, I was surprised to find several chewing gum vending machines placed on each floor. I wonder why the authorities are not concerned about such unhealthy items. Children have easy access to such machines and junk food could have harmful effects on their health.
From Mr Kashif Kamal
Dubai
Not enough
I have been a subscriber of E-vision for the past four years and think their weekend schedule of English programmes is unacceptable. They show many repeats and the feature movies are aired very late. During the summers, people tend to stay at home so a variety of shows would be appreciated. The sports channels are not sufficient, either.
From Mr D. Ralph
Sharjah
The management of e-vision responds: E-vision's content line-up is a very comprehensive and varied one. It encompasses various TV channels, in 21 different languages. Subscribers can choose from a variety of packages, based on their viewing habits and interests. We would also like to clarify that the channel scheduling is completely dependent on individual channels. E-vision is only the channel carrier in this respect.
Clearly marked
Most of the white markings - that define parking spaces - seem to have diminished in Abu Dhabi. Motorists now park their vehicles using more than the allocated space. Instead of parallel parking, if the authorities redesigned diagonal spaces it would be more convenient and encourage better space management. Additionally, if authorities put up a no parking or no entry sign in relevant areas it would be extremely helpful to motorists.
From Mr Majeed K. M.
Abu Dhabi
Step by step
It is evident that the growing rents and traffic congestion are two major issues faced by residents in the UAE ("Apartment and villa rents in Dubai set to slow down, Gulf News, November 3). Both of them are strongly interconnected, too. As a result of the rent hike in Dubai, a large number of residents moved to Sharjah and other northern emirates. However, most of them work in Dubai and it subsequently caused severe traffic congestion, especially on the Dubai-Sharjah highway. If the authorities decide to reduce house rents, it could be the ideal solution for traffic congestion.
From Mr T. Ummer
Dubai
A penny saved
‘Green' spending is key to survival. Given the devastating economic doom, layoffs and rising cost of living, the onus is on parents to set an example for frugality. They should refrain from spending beyond their means and instill a culture of saving in their children. The old adage, ‘a penny saved is a penny earned', might sound trite but it pays in the end. The burgeoning frenzy of taking loans at the drop of a hat should be left behind. Moreover, the spending habit of children should be closely monitored. Parents should encourage saving efforts by rewarding children with incentives.
From Mr Subhasis Mukherjee
Dubai
Minor changes
Does the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) really care? My repeated requests to introduce special bus services for offices situated along the service road on Shaikh Zayed Road have fallen on deaf ears. Though the service provided by the RTA is praiseworthy thus far, minor adjustments would go a long way in easing the traffic congestion. For example, bus number 45 commutes within Shaikh Zayed Road. Let the special buses not be a free ride bus like 45.
From Mr Glen Vitus
Dubai
Strong control
The ground reality is still to be checked ("Apartment and villa rents in Dubai set to slow down", Gulf News, November 3). I don't believe prices would ever come down and even if they did, the difference would be negligent. Unless the authorities intervene and strongly control the prices of basic commodities and rents, the situation might never change for the better.
From Mr Vinod Kewalramani
Sharjah
Losing livelihoods
If petrol pumps were to change to self-service, it could adversely affect the lives of attendants as they stand to lose their livelihoods (“Self-service begins at ENOC petrol stations,'' Gulf News, October 16)? How will they fend for their families? Certain countries have large populations and need all sorts of jobs to be filled up — drivers, pump attendants, maids, gardeners and more — in order keep the population employed. I trust the authorities will not take any hasty decisions and work in everyone's favour.
From Mr Adel D. M.
Dubai
The need of recycling
Everyday tons and tons of wastes is produced in every household. Most of it is non-biodegradable material that can be recycled, such as metals, plastics, paper, cans and glass. However, these are usually thrown away with organic waste. This in turn spoils the environment. Some measures should be taken to prevent this. For instance, recyclable wastes can be separated from kitchen waste and sent to recycling plants. Further more, all schools should encourage children to recycle things and contribute towards a cleaner planet.
From Ms Nhiranjana V.
Abu Dhabi
Commendable
Right parental care and guidance is an essential element for making a marriage successful ("Dubai programme aims to avert divorce, reduce spinsterhood", Gulf News, November 3) Parents are role models especially for a newly married couple. However, there are a lot of reasons for a high divorce rate. At times it could be due to the unfulfillment of pre-marital conditions or difficulty in trying to find a balance between two cultures. Additionally, the adverse influence of the complexities of modern society on life and sex play a vital role too. At present the role played by the institutions that conduct marriages is not much effective. In this context the programme launched by Dubai Women Association to encourage citizens to marry and reduce divorce and the rate of spinsterhood is commendable.
From Mr K. N. Vasudevan
Dubai
Resourcing from source
Dubai's mega plan to produce the largest ‘solar panel manufacturing plant' is an astute and commendable step ("Dubai buildings to be fully green in 5-10 years", Gulf News, October 26). Middle Eastern countries being solar-rich, due to the sun-drenched climatic throughout the year, should make the most of it, in keeping with Gulf News's Go Green mission. Soundless, non-polluting, renewable, less-maintenance and to forget easy installation are the key benefits of solar power. Moreover, it can be easily tailor-made for residential and commercial purpose, thus sparing the ordeals engendered during the unfortunate event of grid failure! Government's financial incentive for the solar power business, to step up the green energy effort, would auger well for a sustainable Green future.
From Mr Subhasis Mukherjee
Dubai
