Although Dubai is often perceived as a city of opportunities, for some people, dreams of a better future end due to unforeseen difficulties that prevent them from returning to their homeland. Thousands of such people pass through one of the centers annually before beginning their journey home.
In the Al-Avir district is the Center for Harboring in Dubai, which discreetly provides temporary shelter, medical care, and legal support to those whose departure from the UAE is delayed. Staff work to resolve their cases, providing them with dignity and support.
This center functions as a comprehensive humanitarian hub, combining medical services, accommodation, legal procedures, and travel coordination under one roof, which significantly differs from stereotypes about immigration facilities.
Every resident goes through a strictly structured process from arrival. The first step is visiting a medical clinic for an initial examination. Those requiring more serious treatment are scheduled for specialist consultations before further movement.
Afterward, residents are provided with the opportunity to shower, receive clean clothes, and use personal care services before moving to the residential area of the center. Personal belongings, including passports, mobile phones, cash, and valuables, are carefully documented and stored in secure lockers. Residents can request access to phones, and landlines are available for contact with family and embassies.
The Center for Harboring provides nine integrated services to meet the humanitarian and practical needs of residents. These services include accommodation and meals, medical care in fully equipped clinics, social and humanitarian support, personal care services, security provision, safe storage of belongings, awareness and recreation programs, and liaison with embassies, consulates, and relevant government bodies.
Specialized teams handle each case individually, cooperating with diplomatic missions to obtain emergency travel documents, finalize legal procedures, and arrange exit permits. Furthermore, the center coordinates with specialized companies to book flights, organize airport transfers, and issue boarding passes.
Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, CEO of GDRFA Dubai, emphasized that the center reflects the humanitarian principles embedded in the UAE's approach to public services. He stated that the Center for Harboring serves as a model demonstrating the UAE's values of tolerance, solidarity, and respect for human dignity.
Al Marri noted that the safety and stability enjoyed by Dubai's residents extend not only to citizens and residents but also to everyone who finds themselves in exceptional circumstances preventing their return home. He added that true leadership is measured by an institution's ability to help people in their most difficult moments.
Major General Dr. Ali bin Ajif Al Zaabi, Deputy CEO of the Violators and Foreigners Control Sector at GDRFA Dubai, reported that specialized groups monitor every resident's case from arrival to departure, ensuring the efficient completion of all stages. He explained that the center was created to consolidate all necessary services, accelerating procedures—from healthcare and basic needs to legal matters and coordination with consulates for document issuance, as well as flight booking.
Staff strive to resolve the issues of detained individuals with the highest level of efficiency, guaranteeing a comprehensive humanitarian experience that preserves their dignity until they leave the UAE.
The scale of the center's operations is confirmed by recent data. In the first half of 2026, the Center for Harboring assisted 11,696 people who could not complete their exit procedures. During the same period, the facility provided 322,232 meals, conducted 11,696 initial medical examinations, organized 1,906 specialist consultations, coordinated the issuance of 4,568 travel documents through embassies and consulates, and provided 11,696 airline tickets.
Officials note that each of these figures means that the journey home required more than just booking a flight. Among recent cases was an African woman who entered the UAE on a tourist visa seeking work. After failing to find employment and facing difficulties finding housing for herself and her daughter, who required medical care, she sought help at the Center for Harboring. Staff provided her with accommodation, medical assistance, and necessary support until all procedures for her departure from the UAE were completed.
Visiting the center makes it clear that its functions go beyond administrative procedures. Medical personnel move between offices, case workers interact with embassies, and support groups ensure that residents have access to food, housing, and essential services while awaiting finalization of travel plans. The center employs an integrated approach, combining operational efficiency with compassionate humanitarian care.
In Tashkent, social service employees were dismissed following a high-profile case involving a lonely pensioner, Lyudmila Zhuravleva. The public drew attention to a video recording where the pensioner complained that a social worker was locking her in her apartment, depriving her of access to water, food, and gas.
The National Agency for Social Protection decided to fire the workers who failed to recognize the woman's deteriorating health in time. According to the agency, specialists from the 'Inson' district center and the district medical association did not detect that the elderly woman required constant care and failed to determine the necessary level of round-the-clock support. As a result of the investigation, the relevant officials were suspended from their duties.
Additional medical examinations confirmed that the pensioner has dyscirculatory encephalopathy of the II–III degree, as well as cognitive impairments and vascular dementia. Currently, Lyudmila Zhuravleva is at the Social Support Center, where she receives necessary medical care and round-the-clock care.
Previously, the prosecutor's office established that this pensioner's apartment had been re-registered to another person back in September 2025. A criminal case was initiated on this fact under the article on fraud.
The new comprehensive animal shelter, established by the Dubai Municipality, has shown significant public interest, achieving an average rate of one domesticated cat per hour since its launch this week. As of now, 18 cats have been placed in residents' homes since the center opened on Monday.
Dr. Abdullah Abdullatif Al Hammadi, a veterinarian at the Dubai Municipality, stated that the center accepts stray, injured, abandoned, or lost animals to reunite them with their owners. If the owner cannot be found, specialists conduct a thorough health check, ensuring necessary vaccinations and medication before offering the animal for adoption.
When Khaleej Times visited the facility on Thursday, it was heavily crowded as potential adopters flocked to the center in Warsan searching for a pet. The adoption area, divided into separate sections with cat trees and wooden benches, allows visitors to interact with various cats.
A Dubai resident, Fudail Buaddah, felt love at first sight when a fluffy grey cat immediately approached his hand. He noted that this was his third visit to Warsan, and he managed to arrive in time to find a friend he plans to take home.
Fudail always kept a cat in his home country but did not have a pet after moving to Dubai. He explained that he wanted to adopt an animal, but Facebook listings seemed fraudulent, as they featured either breeders or people harming cats. Therefore, upon learning about the shelter managed by the Dubai Municipality, he considered it the best place for adoption. He added that the center exceeded his expectations in every way, noting that the animals are well cared for and the adoption process is streamlined.
The shelter, located in Warsan 3, can accommodate approximately 200 cats simultaneously. Each cat undergoes a strict medical examination to guarantee its health and freedom from disease. Cats not yet ready for adoption are housed in a separate part of the center, inaccessible to the public.
Once an animal is ready for placement, it is issued a passport documenting its health history and vaccination records. Dr. Abdullah emphasized the importance of checking the cats' health before adoption. Currently, there is no provision for rescuers or foster parents to leave cats at this center.
The center houses both newborn kittens and older animals. A cat named Little Bear, which has spent the most time in the shelter, is still awaiting its permanent home. Dr. Abdullah expressed hope that this will happen soon.
Potential adopters must confirm that they live in a suitable location to keep a cat. Although the adoption itself is free, residents pay a service fee of 230 dirhams. The center operates from Monday to Thursday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Dr. Abdullah also stated that all precautions are being taken to match the adopter with a suitable cat. Information about the cats, including descriptions of their temperament—such as active, quiet, or playful—is published on the website. He insists that people choose an animal that suits their needs and always advises carefully considering the decision, stressing that a pet is not a toy but a serious commitment.
