ABU DHABI // Members of a Filipino migrant's right group are alarmed over the spate of rape incidents involving their compatriots.
"We've been handling rape cases almost every week," said Karen Tanedo, chairwoman of Migrante-UAE. "It's really alarming."
On January 12, the group received a report of a Filipina housemaid in Umm Al Quwain who was gang-raped by three Arab men on December 31. The following week a secretary complained that she was raped by her boss inside a hotel room.
"The boss said there was a party with the rest of the team," said Nhel Morona, the UAE country co-ordinator for Migrante Middle East. "They began drinking while she waited for the guests to arrive. It turned out that there was no party and he raped her."
Last week, the group also received a complaint from a Filipina shop assistant who was attacked by her Arab friend's compatriot.
The organisation handled seven rape cases in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai last year.
"We now plan to open a women's desk to help all these distressed women and we'll endorse their cases to the Philippine embassy and consulate," said Ryan Pescadera, the group's secretary general.
The new service will complement the counselling provided by Gabriela-UAE, a Filipino women's rights group that was launched in Dubai in November 2011.
"These women are defenceless," said Kristie Mae Templa, the group's secretary-general. "Many fail to report the crime because they fear they will end up in prison and be blamed for what happened."
In September last year, Dr Mohammed Murad Abdullah, director of the Dubai Police decision-making support centre, told a conference on violence against women that a recent police study found only 9.5 per cent of sexual assault victims report the crimes.
Women were far more likely to go to the police if they had been the victim of a severe assault (80 per cent) or a threat (50 per cent).
Gabriela UAE has held a series of sessions for housemaids and office workers about violence against women since its launch.
"They need to be educated on violence against women and children," Ms Templa said. "The agency that deployed them to the UAE should run awareness sessions on what to expect while working overseas and how and where they can seek help."
Both groups refer the cases to the Assistance To Nationals section at the Philippines consulate in Al Ghusais.
The consular officers provide counselling, attend court hearings, ask for legal assistance funds from Manila, visit jails and coordinate with UAE authorities.
"As a lawyer, I would encourage them to report the crime to the police," said Frank Cimafranca, the Filipino consul-general in Dubai. "They can also approach the embassy or consulate for assistance.
"In sexual crimes, especially rape, it is important to report it without delay following the incident so that the culprit could be apprehended immediately and to preserve evidence."
rruiz@thenational.ae
Opening Premier League fixtures, August 14
- Brentford v Arsenal
- Burnley v Brighton
- Chelsea v Crystal Palace
- Everton v Southampton
- Leicester City v Wolves
- Manchester United v Leeds United
- Newcastle United v West Ham United
- Norwich City v Liverpool
- Tottenham v Manchester City
- Watford v Aston Villa
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
