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8/18/25, 4:01 PM UAE: Human trafficking survivor gets Dubai Police diploma, helps raise awareness | Khaleej Times

It all started when a man claiming to be a sports agent approached him with what seemed like a

golden opportunity: a contract with a club in an African country that would serve as his gateway to
European football. Excited, S.G. scraped together his savings, travelled across deserts, and set out
to chase his dream. But when he arrived, he realised there was no club. The so-called “agent” was
actually part of a human trafficking gang.

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“They forced me to work for them under threats and beatings,” S.G. recalled. “I had to guard and
transport women they were exploiting. I tried to escape once, but they caught me, assaulted me

brutally, and warned me they would kill me if I tried again.”

After a second escape attempt, aided by someone who sympathised with his ordeal, he managed to

flee and return home. A friend in the UAE later encouraged him to move to Dubai, where he secured
a job with a private security company at an airport.

Feeling secure psychologically, mentally, and socially wasn’t the end of his story. His new employer
nominated him for the Anti-Human Trafficking Specialist Diploma, a programme launched by the
National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking and Dubai Police, in cooperation with the
Dubai Judicial Institute and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Despite his traumatic past, S.G. completed the course and produced a research paper on Border
Control Procedures to Prevent Human Trafficking Crimes. His recommendations included specialised

training for border control officers, improved cooperation between agencies, and public awareness
campaigns.

He emphasised the importance of creating mechanisms to support and protect human trafficking
victims, ensuring their access to medical care, social services, and legal assistance. Additionally, he
stressed the need for effective border control measures, including biometric technology, thorough risk
assessments, profiling, and collaboration among various agencies and organisations.

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