Where women can rebuild their lives



ABU DHABI // They come to the UAE lured by promises of tax-free salaries and jobs, scarce in their home countries. But after they arrive, some see those assurances disintegrate into servitude and prostitution. Ewaa Shelters for Women and Children has already helped nearly 20 of these victims of human trafficking since it launched in Abu Dhabi in January, said the executive director, Sarah Shuhail.

"We always hear the same story from these women," Mrs Shuhail said. "They were cheated into coming here and told that they would get a job as maybe a waitress or a secretary. They end up working as something very different." Referred by churches, the police, hospitals and embassies, shelter residents are given the aid they need to rebuild their lives, Mrs Shuhail said. And more facilities may be on the way.

"We plan to open other shelters, perhaps in Ras al Khaimah, or Al Ain ? anywhere where there is a need," Mrs Shuhail said, pointing out that the word "shelter" is plural in the organisation's name. "We ... are willing to open in other emirates around the country." Ewaa, which literally means "to shelter", can accommodate up to 30 women and girls. Currently there are some 15 women of various nationalities - some from eastern Europe, others from Arab states - who are starting to get back on their feet. Two women already have been voluntarily repatriated.

The idea for the shelter was announced last year and supported by Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has provided the annual budget for the government-affiliated shelter, which falls under the UAE Red Crescent Authority. Sheikha Fatima has visited the shelter and donated the land and funding for a permanent facility, which Ewaa hopes to open in the next two years.

"We want it to be a model shelter," Mrs Shuhail said. Other plans include a website and a multilingual hotline, through which women can contact the shelter. The Dubai Women and Children's Foundation, which opened in 2007, is among similar organisations that aid trafficking victims. Housed in a villa in the capital, the women, some with children, are taking their first steps towards reclaiming their lives. They have use of a communal kitchen, treadmill, library, computers and a large garden. Classes in embroidery and painting are available. There also is a clinic with a doctor on call next door.

"We try to make a family-type environment. They came here to feel safe," said Maitha al Mazrui, the shelter's co-ordination and follow-up officer. The women can leave the compound when they wish, to go to church or shopping, but always are accompanied by a staff member. Care can be provided for up to six months. Even after the women return to their home countries, Ewaa remains involved with their cases.

"We try to help get them job opportunities and can also offer financial help through the other shelters and international agencies," Ms al Mazrui said. "We try to deal with the case as a human being and to solve her problem both here [in the UAE] and there." Three anti-trafficking cases have so far been launched through information gathered from the women. People found guilty of trafficking in the UAE face penalties prescribed in Law 51, introduced in 2006, including fines of up to Dh1 million (US$272,000) and possible life imprisonment.

Recently, the Government has stepped up enforcement of human trafficking laws. This week, the head of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, Dr Anwar Gargash, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, announced that 18 trafficking cases were handled by UAE courts in 2008, compared with 10 in 2007.
zconstantine@thenational.ae

The bio

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The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

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Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

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At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

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Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
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Company%20profile
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Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

The specs: 2019 BMW X4

Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800

Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km

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