High Hopes

What High Hopes does

High Hopes is a Dubai-based non-profit pediatric therapy center founded in 2017 by Lynn Barghout Jafar. It provides integrated, multidisciplinary therapy for children aged 0-14 with moderate to complex special needs, including autism, cerebral palsy, genetic disorders, sensory processing difficulties, and developmental delays. The center operates from two fully accessible villas in Jumeirah, Dubai, totaling roughly 6,000 square feet, with therapy rooms, sensory and soft play rooms, gyms, custom playgrounds, and a purpose-built hydrotherapy pool.

Service delivery spans seven disciplines — Pediatric Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Hydrotherapy, Sensory Integration Therapy, and Feeding Therapy — supported by specialized equipment including the TREXO Robotic Gait Trainer, Galileo Machine, Spider Cage, and multiple AAC technologies including eye-gaze systems. The center complements clinical work with assessments, parent coaching, school collaboration, and twice-yearly intensive therapy blocks featuring visiting international specialists. All therapists are DHA- and CDA-licensed, and High Hopes became the UAE's first pediatric therapy center to achieve Triple ISO Certification in June 2026.

The business model is direct-to-consumer professional services paid per session in advance, with in-center, home-based, and virtual delivery modes. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the center is not directly affiliated with insurers but provides documentation for reimbursement. The company is founder-owned, with no institutional investors or parent company identified, and operates under a Board of Trustees structure. The founder's related entity, the Loulou Foundation, extends the mission into rare disease research and advocacy.

Name

High Hopes

Legal name

High Hopes

Website

https://highhopesdubai.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

High Hopes is a Dubai-based non-profit pediatric therapy center serving children aged 0-14 with moderate to complex special needs. It delivers seven integrated therapy disciplines under one roof using specialized rehabilitation equipment and DHA-licensed international specialists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Therapy Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Pediatric Rehabilitation & Developmental Therapy Centers (PT/OT/SLP) (HLAFAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pediatric In-Home Rehabilitation Therapy (PT/OT/SLP) (HSABADAM), Behavioral Support & Positive Behavior Intervention Childcare (HSAAAIAF)

Keywords

• Pediatric therapy services
• Occupational therapy
• Speech language therapy
• Applied behavior analysis
• Hydrotherapy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Therapy Session Fees: Individual and group therapy sessions including Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, ABA Therapy, Hydrotherapy, Sensory Integration Therapy, and Feeding Therapy. Sessions conducted in-center, at home, or virtually. Paid in advance.
2. Intensive Therapy Programs: Short-term, high-frequency intensive therapy blocks, such as the three-week hydrotherapy intensive held twice yearly with visiting specialists from Spain
3. Assessment and Evaluation Services: Disciplinary assessments to identify developmental needs and set therapy goals, including comprehensive evaluation reports
4. Parent Coaching and Education: Training and support services for parents to reinforce therapy at home

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

High Hopes is a nonprofit pediatric therapy center providing integrated multidisciplinary therapy services for children aged 0–14 with moderate to complex special needs in Dubai, UAE. It delivers seven therapy disciplines — Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Hydrotherapy, Sensory Integration, and Feeding Therapy — through in-center, home-based, and virtual sessions led by DHA and CDA-licensed specialists and BCBAs. The center also offers interdisciplinary assessments, intensive therapy blocks, and parent coaching from a purpose-built facility with specialized clinical equipment.

Product overview

High Hopes is a pediatric therapy center offering an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to pediatric care for children aged 0-14 years with moderate to complex special needs. The center provides seven core therapy services under one roof: Pediatric Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Therapy, Hydrotherapy, Sensory Integration Therapy, and Feeding Therapy. The integrated model enables interdisciplinary collaboration where specialists work together to design individualized, goal-oriented treatment plans. The center operates from purpose-built facilities in Dubai featuring specialized equipment including a hydrotherapy pool, soft playroom, sensory rooms, and advanced tools such as the TREXO Robotic Gait Trainer, Galileo machine, and spider cage. Additional support services include interdisciplinary assessments, intensive therapy programs, parent coaching, AAC and assistive technology services, and school collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Loulou Foundation: Medical research foundation co-founded by Lynn Barghout Jafar, dedicated to developing research-based therapies for rare diseases.

Products and services

• Pediatric Physical Therapy Evidence-based physical therapy supporting children's physical development, mobility, balance, strength, and coordination for conditions including cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, brain injury, and genetic or developmental diagnoses. Tailored programs are developed collaboratively with families for each child.
• Occupational Therapy Therapy supporting children with motor coordination, sensory processing, and emotional regulation difficulties using evidence-based practices including Sensory Integration Therapy, Feeding Therapy for picky eaters, and Assistive Technology to optimize each child's participation in daily life.
• Speech and Language Therapy Individualized therapy supporting communication development through verbal, non-verbal, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) methods, while also addressing feeding and swallowing challenges for children with speech and language delays.
• Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy (ABA) Evidence-based ABA therapy led by qualified Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) helping children, especially those with autism, develop communication, social, academic, and life skills through structured, goal-oriented interventions.
• Hydrotherapy Aquatic therapy using a purpose-built hydrotherapy pool to support strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance, reducing pain and promoting cardio-respiratory health through personalized water-based sessions for children with mobility and physical challenges.
• Sensory Integration Therapy Therapy helping children process and respond to sensory information more effectively through individualized techniques using specialized swings, soft playroom, and calming sensory experience room tools to improve sensory processing, motor skills, and adaptive responses.
• Feeding Therapy Specialized therapy addressing feeding challenges through oral motor exercises, sensory integration, and specialized tools to improve muscle function, chewing, and swallowing for children with various feeding difficulties.
• Interdisciplinary Assessment and Evaluation Services Disciplinary assessments to identify developmental needs and set therapy goals, including comprehensive evaluation reports, used by families and schools to inform individualized therapy and education plans.
• Intensive Therapy Programs Short-term, high-frequency intensive therapy blocks, such as the three-week hydrotherapy intensive held twice yearly with visiting specialists from Spain, providing concentrated intervention for children with complex needs.
• Parent Coaching and Education Training and support services for parents and caregivers to reinforce therapy goals at home, including family engagement programs and home program implementation guidance.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Loulou FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-founded by Lynn Barghout Jafar, High Hopes founder. One of the world's leading medical research foundations dedicated to developing research-based therapies for rare diseases. Represents the research and advocacy component of the organization's mission.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Priory Group: UK-based specialist provider of mental health, neurodevelopmental, and pediatric therapy services. Comparable in serving children with autism, developmental delays, and complex needs, but as a much larger international incumbent.
• NMC Healthcare: One of the largest private healthcare providers in the UAE, with multi-specialty hospitals and pediatric offerings. Comparable UAE footprint and pediatric patient base, but as a broad incumbent rather than a dedicated pediatric therapy specialist.
• Burjeel Holdings: Major UAE healthcare operator with hospitals, clinics, and pediatric services across the Emirates. Overlaps with High Hopes in UAE pediatric patient base but operates as a broad incumbent rather than a specialized therapy center.

Direct peers

• BlueSprig Pediatrics: US provider of ABA therapy and related pediatric services for children with autism. Comparable therapy-led pediatric services model with similar clinical disciplines and family-centered care approach.
• Centria Healthcare: US provider of ABA therapy and pediatric behavioral health services for children with autism and developmental disabilities. Directly comparable in ABA-led, multidisciplinary pediatric therapy delivery.
• Cortica: US pediatric therapy network delivering integrated ABA, OT, PT, speech, and developmental services for autism and neurodevelopmental conditions. Comparable integrated, multi-disciplinary care model targeting children with complex needs.
• Hopebridge: US-based multidisciplinary pediatric therapy provider focused on autism and developmental delays, offering ABA, OT, PT, and speech therapy under one roof. Highly comparable operating model to High Hopes' integrated, multidisciplinary approach for children with special needs.

Regional players

• Cambridge Medical and Rehabilitation Center: UAE-based provider of post-acute rehabilitation and pediatric therapy services, including therapy for children with complex needs. Comparable regionally in pediatric therapy delivery but broader in adult rehab focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HighHopesDubai
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/high-hopes-paediatric-therapy-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/highhopesdubai

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about High Hopes