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Four former female recruits have accused the UK’s Army Foundation College (AFC) in Harrogate of fostering a culture of sexual abuse, harassment and misogyny, with one woman alleging she was raped by several fellow recruits when she was 17 years old. The women, who attended the military training college over the past five years, shared their experiences publicly for the first time. They said they faced sexual violence, harassment and degrading treatment while undergoing training at the college, which prepares teenagers for military service. One former recruit said she accepted an invitation to another recruit’s room, believing it was harmless. She alleged that several male recruits sexually assaulted and raped her over the course of several hours. The traumatic incident forced her to leave the Army within weeks, saying she could no longer continue her training after the attack. Another former recruit alleged that a fellow trainee trapped her inside a room before sexually assaulting her. She said she managed to escape after struggling with the attacker. A third former recruit’s mother said her daughter endured repeated sexual harassment throughout her training and even blocked her dormitory door at night because the room’s lock was broken and she feared male recruits entering. A fourth woman claimed some instructors openly made sexist remarks, rated female recruits based on their appearance and entered female dormitories without warning. She alleged that such behaviour encouraged disrespectful attitudes toward women among male trainees. Official data obtained through freedom of information requests revealed that police received 16 reports of sexual offences linked to the college during the year ending in June. The reported incidents included allegations of sexual assault, exposure and voyeurism. Separate Ministry of Defence figures showed that 176 complaints involving inappropriate sexual behaviour were recorded at the college between January 2018 and June 2025. Most complaints involved junior soldiers, while dozens concerned permanent staff members. The British Army described the allegations as extremely serious and distressing, stating that criminal or unacceptable behaviour has no place in the armed forces. It said several reforms have been introduced to improve victim support and strengthen the handling of serious offences, including specialist investigations conducted outside the normal chain of command. The Army also said it encourages anyone who has experienced or witnessed misconduct to report it and maintained that the college remains committed to providing a professional, safe and supportive environment for all recruits. However, concerns have grown over the safety of young recruits following previous convictions involving Army personnel for sexual offences and wider reports highlighting sexual misconduct within the armed forces.

Dubai has introduced a new initiative offering special discounts and benefits to residents who invite friends and family members to visit the emirate. The move aims to support the tourism sector, which has faced challenges due to regional tensions and declining visitor activity. Under the programme, residents can invite their relatives and friends to Dubai and receive benefits worth more than AED 3,000, including hotel stays, dining offers, entertainment experiences and attraction tickets. The initiative, called “A Dubai Invite,” encourages residents to become ambassadors for the city by promoting Dubai as a travel destination among their personal networks. The programme will continue until the end of October. Residents can register and nominate guests through an official platform, allowing invited visitors to access the available offers and experiences during their stay. The campaign comes during the summer season, which is traditionally a slower period for tourism in the United Arab Emirates due to extremely high temperatures that can reach around 50 degrees Celsius. Dubai remains one of the world’s leading tourism destinations, attracting millions of visitors every year with its luxury hotels, shopping centres, entertainment venues and iconic landmarks. However, the emirate’s tourism industry has faced pressure following regional security concerns. Earlier tensions in the Middle East affected travel patterns, with some tourists cancelling trips and hotels experiencing lower occupancy levels. The tourism sector has gradually shown signs of recovery after a ceasefire reduced tensions in the region. Industry officials said many hotels have increasingly relied on domestic visitors and local tourism activity during the recovery period. The Dubai government has also introduced financial support measures to help businesses affected by regional disruptions. Previous relief packages included fee reductions, exemptions for certain sectors and support measures for hospitality and aviation-related businesses.