Dubai Opens SOUN Centre to Rehabilitate and Empower At-Risk Youth

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the SOUN Centre for Care and Rehabilitation, a key initiative by the Community Development Authority (CDA) dedicated to rehabilitating juvenile delinquents. This move aligns with the objectives of Dubai Social Agenda 33, which seeks to build a proactive social system for care, empowerment, and protection.

The Centre provides a structured environment for rehabilitation, offering programmes aimed at reintegrating youth into society and reducing repeat offenses. At the event, His Highness was joined by His Excellency Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chief of Police and Public Security in Dubai, who highlighted the Centre’s collaborative approach. This initiative brings together entities like Dubai Police, Dubai Courts, and the Family and Juvenile Prosecution to ensure comprehensive juvenile care.

Her Excellency Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the CDA, emphasized the Centre’s mission to foster a safe environment for court-sentenced juveniles, aiding their personal growth through individual and group sessions, social activities, and educational initiatives.

“The Centre reflects our leadership’s commitment to supporting vulnerable youth,”

Buhumaid stated.

During the opening, cooperation agreements were signed with the Ministry of Education, Knowledge and Human Development Authority, and Dubai Health, reinforcing the Centre’s efforts to establish a sustainable support system.

The facility can house 48 juveniles, with areas for rehabilitation, housing, a mosque, sports and dining facilities, classrooms, and a courtroom. The Centre’s rehabilitation and preventive programmes include workshops, awareness campaigns, and community studies, aiming to address the factors driving juvenile delinquency and contribute to a safer society.

News Source: Dubai Media Office