In a quiet corner of Abu Dhabi, a 24-hour centre is working to ensure that no child at risk “slips through the cracks”.
Known simply as the Child Centre, the unit operates under the Family Care Authority and brings together experts from across the child protection spectrum, from social workers, case managers, psychologists, police, prosecutors and doctors to intervene when a child is in danger.
“The Child Centre is a specialised entity that focuses on ensuring the well-being and protection of children of all ages, nationalities, and ethnicities in Abu Dhabi,” Naema Al Shehhi, case manager at the centre, told The National.
“There is a multidisciplinary approach. It brings together several entities: social workers, case managers, psychologists, law enforcement – both police and prosecution – and medical professionals. We also work with schools, hospitals, and any entity that interacts directly with children.”
How are incidents reported?
Based in Khalifa City, all of these services are housed under one roof, allowing staff to respond quickly and efficiently.
“We often receive reports from schools or hospitals and co-ordinate with them when creating intervention plans,” Ms Al Shehhi said.
The range of cases the centre sees is wide, from physical, emotional and sexual abuse, to neglect and exploitation such as forced labour or trafficking.
“We receive various types of cases: psychological, sexual, or physical abuse; exploitation, including child labour or trafficking; and cases of neglect where children lack proper care,” she said.
While some reports come from hospitals or schools, others are submitted directly by the public.
“We receive reports through various channels: the hotline (800 444), our online portal, hospitals, police, prosecution, and sometimes directly from the public,” Ms Al Shehhi said, adding that while it is natural for parents or schools to report to police, they are always welcome to come directly to the centre.
“We encourage families and schools to report directly to us, unless there’s immediate danger, in which case they should go to the police, who will refer the case to us.”
How are cases assessed?
Once a report is filed, the team begins with a risk assessment to identify where the danger is coming from.
“Each case is assessed individually. The first step is a risk assessment. We identify the source of risk – whether it’s a parent, another child, a stranger – and tailor the next steps accordingly,” Ms Al Shehhi said.
“If a parent is the source of risk, we may interview the child at school to avoid influence or pressure. Only after understanding the risk do we involve the parents.”
In cases of serious and immediate danger, action is swift. “We assess whether the child can safely return to their environment. If not, alternative care is arranged – ideally within the extended family. If that’s not possible, we place the child in a shelter. Our services run 24/7. When a child is at immediate risk, action is taken within hours.”
That kind of fast response is not common in the UAE, and that is exactly the point.
“Compared to police or prosecution processes, our intervention is more immediate, especially in child abuse cases. We act quickly and prioritise high-risk cases,” she said.
She said most of the abuse cases she sees are not malicious but happen because of a lack of education. “While child abuse is common, many cases stem from a lack of education or awareness. In such cases, we focus on educating and empowering parents.”
Still, the more serious cases leave a mark. “Most of the abuse we see is unintentional, due to lack of awareness. But intentional abuse cases do occur and those are the ones that stay with you the most. Children don’t always have the awareness or means to report what’s happening to them.”
Who is supported?
In terms of age, the centre can help everyone from newborns to teenagers. “We receive cases from children as young as a few months old up to 18 years,” Ms Al Shehhi said.
While their work touches many aspects of child welfare, adoption cases are handled elsewhere.
Often, a case may begin with a school, a hospital, or a family member reaching out but it can also come from a parent walking into the centre in distress.
Once the team determines how serious the risk is, they build a response plan. “We conduct a comprehensive evaluation, implement an intervention plan, and follow up before closing any case,” Ms Al Shehhi said.
Even then, follow-ups continue. “Our case management process continues after the initial intervention,” she added. “We conduct a comprehensive evaluation, implement an intervention plan, and follow up before closing any case.”
Children with special needs are considered high-risk, and their cases are treated with even greater caution.
In the end, she said, if a child is unsafe and nobody acts, the consequences can be devastating.
“Children cannot protect themselves, and the adult they’re living with determines the quality of their life,” Ms Al Shehhi said. “If there’s danger and our entity doesn’t intervene, there may be no way the child can be removed from that environment.”
The Child Centre in Khalifa City – in pictures
US tops drug cost charts
The study of 13 essential drugs showed costs in the United States were about 300 per cent higher than the global average, followed by Germany at 126 per cent and 122 per cent in the UAE.
Thailand, Kenya and Malaysia were rated as nations with the lowest costs, about 90 per cent cheaper.
In the case of insulin, diabetic patients in the US paid five and a half times the global average, while in the UAE the costs are about 50 per cent higher than the median price of branded and generic drugs.
Some of the costliest drugs worldwide include Lipitor for high cholesterol.
The study’s price index placed the US at an exorbitant 2,170 per cent higher for Lipitor than the average global price and the UAE at the eighth spot globally with costs 252 per cent higher.
High blood pressure medication Zestril was also more than 2,680 per cent higher in the US and the UAE price was 187 per cent higher than the global price.
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Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
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4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Asia Cup Qualifier
Venue: Kuala Lumpur
Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September
Fixtures:
Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6: Final
Asia Cup
Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Schedule: Sep 15-28
Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier
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Napoleon
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Score
New Zealand 266 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 219 all out in 47.2 overs
New Zealand win by 47 runs
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Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
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2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
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Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin
4/5 stars
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Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
The Rub of Time: Bellow, Nabokov, Hitchens, Travolta, Trump and Other Pieces 1986-2016
Martin Amis,
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