Dubai Opens First Shelter for Boys Under 18 Facing Abuse and Neglect
Dubai has opened its first shelter exclusively for male children, marking a major step in child protection services across the emirate.
Launched by the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, the new facility is the first of its kind in the city and is designed to offer a secure, private environment for boys — both Emiratis and residents — who have experienced violence, neglect, or exploitation. It fills a long-standing gap in services for boys over the age of 12, who were previously placed in youth hostels.
With space for up to 20 boys, the shelter is managed by a trained all-male team, including psychologists, social workers, and residential supervisors, ensuring cultural sensitivity and specialized care. Each child undergoes a thorough assessment to determine the type of harm and receives a tailored protection and rehabilitation plan.
Referrals come from various entities, including schools, hospitals, and law enforcement, and in urgent cases, children can be admitted within 24 hours. Facilities include bedrooms, study rooms, a gym, prayer areas, and dedicated spaces for counseling and activities.
The shelter also prepares boys for adulthood through vocational training and life skills support, extending care beyond the age of 18.
The opening was officiated by Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim and attended by senior officials and stakeholders. It brings the total number of shelters operated by the Foundation to four, reinforcing Dubai's commitment to child welfare under Social Agenda 33 and the Year of Community 2025 initiative.
Shaikha Saeed Al Mansouri, Acting Director General of the Foundation, highlighted the growing need for adolescent-focused care, noting that emotional and verbal abuse remain the most reported cases.
News Source: Khaleej Times
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE summer: Viral infections among children on the rise, warn paediatricians
Doctors are reporting an increase in paediatric patients in recent weeks, with many children presenting symptoms of high-grade fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, and persistent coughs. With seasonal illnesses expected to persist during transitional weather, both healthcare professionals and educators are urging parents to prioritise full recovery, hydration, and preventive measures to curb the spread of infections and safeguard the wider community. Dr Amjad Mouhammad Haider, Consultant Pediatrician at International Modern Hospital Dubai, told Khaleej Times, "We have observed a noticeable increase in pediatric visits over the past few weeks. Most children are presenting with high-grade fevers, persistent coughs, sore throats, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. We're also seeing many cases of viral infections such as upper respiratory tract infections and gastroenteritis.' He added, 'While the majority are manageable on an outpatient basis, a small percentage - especially infants or children with underlying health conditions - have required hospital admission for dehydration or severe symptoms.' Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Haider emphasised that the increasing temperatures are playing a role. 'The rise in temperature is definitely a contributing factor, particularly due to heat exhaustion and dehydration.' However, medics also pointed out that beyond the climate, the return to school and close-contact environments is a major concern. 'As schools and daycare centers are operating at full capacity, viruses tend to spread more easily in such close-contact environments. Additionally, poor hydration and dietary imbalances during the hotter months can weaken a child's immune response,' added Haider. Echoing this, other healthcare professionals pointed out that the primary reason children are falling ill is the spread of viral infections among students. Dr Noher Moustafa, Specialist Pediatrics at Medeor Hospital, Abu Dhabi, said, 'This especially happens in school settings where close contact makes transmission easier. It is quite common for children to become unwell during the school season. Increased interaction in group environments tends to heighten the risk of viral infections during this period.' Common illnesses Schools are also witnessing the impact first-hand. Sarah Brannon, Head of Preparatory School at Brighton College Dubai, confirmed the uptick in common illnesses. 'At this time of year, we are seeing some outbreaks of common illnesses like the flu, colds, and stomach bugs which are typical during seasonal changes. The health and wellness of our pupils – and the wellbeing of the wider community – is most important to us.' She detailed the school's response policy, explaining, 'We have a clear Healthy School policy in place where we closely monitor pupils' health and advise parents not to send their children to school if they show symptoms. Our policy requires pupils to stay home until they are symptom-free for at least 24 hours without the use of medication – this helps ensure they are well enough to be at school and engage in activities when they return.' Follow medical advice She added, 'Additionally, there is a chance of spreading illness to others in the school community, including classmates, teachers, teammates and other staff. Parents should be considerate to the rest of the school community and help us maintain a safe and healthy environment for all. To support both individual well-being and the health of our wider school community, we strongly encourage families to follow medical advice and our school's return-to-school guidelines closely, ensuring pupils return when they're truly ready.' S. Reshma, Principal and School Director at Regent Gulf Indian High School, underlined the long-term implications of rushing children back to school too early. "There has been a noticeable increase in the seasonal illness not only among students but staff as well. When the child returns to school before full recovery, there are chances that a child may remain unwell for greater number of days resulting in increased absence and possibly developing complications later.'
Web Release
2 days ago
- Web Release
Hamdan Foundation Advances to Judging Stage of 2025 Medical Awards After Screening 330 Submissions
Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences has announced the completion of the screening process for the 2025 Medical Awards, which aim to recognize outstanding achievements in healthcare at both the local and regional levels. According to the awards committee, this year's cycle received a total of 330 submissions from 18 countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Oman, Iraq, India, Kuwait, the United Kingdom, Qatar, Jordan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Morocco, the United States, Pakistan, Tunisia, Syria, and Ghana. Following an initial review, 261 submissions advanced to the administrative and technical screening stage, which involved verifying compliance with the award's eligibility criteria and guidelines. Of those, 161 applications were confirmed as eligible and are now set to proceed to the judging phase, scheduled to begin on 2 June and continue until 15 October. The judging process will be carried out by specialized committees comprising distinguished experts in the field. Each submission will be assessed according to the specific evaluation criteria established for each award category. Dr. Salama Al Muhairi, Director of Medical Excellence at Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, emphasized the significance of this stage, noting that the evaluation and screening of submissions adhere to the highest standards to ensure transparency and fairness throughout the process. She added that these efforts reflect the merit and credibility of the Medical Excellence Awards, which seek to spotlight innovations and achievements that contribute to the advancement of medical practices. The awards also aim to encourage and support researchers in producing impactful and innovative studies in medicine and healthcare. The Foundation is committed to sharing the benefits of award-winning work, offering it as a source of inspiration and a model for excellence in scientific and medical fields. These achievements also contribute to the development of new solutions to address growing challenges in the healthcare sector. The Medical Excellence Awards consist of two main categories. The first is dedicated to supporting health and research achievements across the Arab world and includes the Arab Award for Health Sector Research and the Arab Award for Genetic Sciences. The second category focuses on recognizing exceptional contributions within the United Arab Emirates and includes the Best Research in Healthcare Award, the Innovation in Healthcare Award, and the Hamdan Award for Distinguished Personalities. Over previous cycles, the awards have garnered wide recognition and attracted high-quality submissions from both inside and outside the UAE. This success reflects the Foundation's commitment to supporting innovation and fostering a culture of excellence in the healthcare sector, while highlighting major accomplishments in scientific research and healthcare delivery.
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Al Etihad
Awqaf enriches Emirati pilgrims' spiritual, practical knowledge with Hajj kit
4 June 2025 00:19 AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)To support Emiratis going on Hajj, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, and Zakat (Awqaf) has prepared a comprehensive kit to help them understand the essential values, virtues, and etiquette for the sacred kit is especially valuable given that nearly 91% of UAE pilgrims this year are performing Hajj for the first time. The annual pilgrimage officially begins on June 4. The kit — which has been put together in partnership with the UAE Council for Fatwa — is comprised of carefully curated brochures and booklets that aim to enrich the spiritual and practical knowledge of pilgrims, Awqaf told Aletihad . "This Hajj awareness kit reflects our deep commitment to guiding and supporting UAE pilgrims in performing their rituals with knowledge, faith, and peace of mind," the authority said.'It is our responsibility to make sure that each pilgrim is academically and spiritually ready for this auspicious voyage.'Among the key publications in the bag is 'Values of the Pilgrim', a booklet that offers lessons on essential moral and ethical values that a pilgrim should uphold during the sacred journey, the authority said. These values include humility, patience, generosity, and kindness — qualities that help pilgrims fulfill the true spirit of Hajj and enhance the likelihood of their pilgrimage being essential component of the kit is 'Supplication in Hajj', which highlights the significance of du'a (supplication) during the pilgrimage. It provides insights into the virtues, etiquette, and conditions of du'a, along with a collection of comprehensive prayers that pilgrims may need throughout their journey. The package also includes a scholarly guide titled 'They Ask You About Hajj: Fatwa Stations', compiled by the UAE Council for Fatwa. This publication addresses frequently asked religious questions and issues related to Hajj, offering reliable rulings and clarifications based on Islamic jurisprudence. It serves as a valuable reference for pilgrims seeking authentic answers during different stages of addition to the booklets, the kit features a map of the main Hajj stations, helping Emiratis understand the geographic and procedural flow of the pilgrimage. It serves as a practical guide to support planning, navigation, and the performance of rituals. Every pilgrim also received a copy of the holy Quran and a special Hajj prayer booklet as part of the kit, offering both spiritual guidance and easy access to essential religious text. This UAE initiative underscores the importance of proper religious preparation and spiritual awareness, ensuring that pilgrims are not only physically ready but also spiritually and intellectually equipped for this profound religious journey.
