Wake-up call

As the year draws to a close, the growing headlines I read about new laws, stricter regulations, and heavier fines are not just updated in the news — they are warnings.

In the UAE, where safety, order, and dignity define daily life, these changes call for deeper awareness and personal responsibility. Whilst we all have the freedom to live we also need to let others live by not causing an inconvenience.

Living here comes with clear dos and don’ts that guide behaviour on the roads, in public spaces, online, and in how we treat one another whether it's in an office or when you’re even out in the street. These are not meant to cause a hindrance in our life and trap us but instead they are meant to protect us. Yet, in moments of haste, anger, or carelessness, we tend to neglect how quickly one wrong decision can alter a life.

A few seconds of speeding. A severe word spoken without thought. A message or image shared online without considering its impact. With all this I have just thought of thinking before I even click a site that I am unaware of as social media is available to everyone all at a click of a button. These small moments can lead to lasting consequences legal, emotional, and personal. The rise in fines and enforcement reminds us that ignorance is no longer a pretext, and silence is no longer safety. Awareness is endurance. Its time that we guard ourselves with care. For 2026 one of my core focuses will be to dwell deep into my mind and soul and not deal with other individuals’ concerns.

Mathew Litty,

Dubai