Emirates Autism Center

What Emirates Autism Center does

Emirates Autism Center (EAC) is a non-profit organization founded in 2007 by Amal Sabry in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and officially opened on April 2, 2008, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. The center delivers diagnostic, educational, and rehabilitative services to children with autism spectrum disorder aged 4-18, drawing students from more than 10 nationalities. The founder's son, Amr Sharaan, became the first autistic person in the UAE to graduate high school through a formal inclusion process and is now employed full-time at the center as an Attendance Taker — an outcome the organization cites as evidence of its inclusion model.

The service portfolio is built on evidence-based therapeutic frameworks (TEACCH structured teaching, Lovaas Applied Behaviour Analysis, and the Picture Exchange Communication System) combined with standardized assessment (ADOS-2, PEP-R, DSM-V, AAPEP), speech therapy, occupational therapy in a dedicated sensory integration room, adaptive physical education, vocational rehabilitation workshops (leather, printing, carpets, bamboo, pottery, handicrafts), individualized education programs (IEPs) with integrated family counseling, and weekly community inclusion outings. All programming is delivered from a single facility on Al Falah Street in Abu Dhabi.

The revenue model combines tuition and rehabilitation fees for services (assessment, therapy, IEPs, vocational training) with corporate sponsorships and donations that fund capital items such as the gym, sensory room, computer department, and printing press. Go-to-market is community-led: annual Autism Awareness Week events under royal patronage, partnerships with the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and other corporate donors, and direct family referrals. No external institutional investment, no public pricing, and no revenue figures are disclosed.

Name

Emirates Autism Center

Legal name

Emirates Autism Center

Website

https://emiratesautism.ae

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Emirates Autism Center is a non-profit founded in 2007 in Abu Dhabi delivering diagnostic, educational, and rehabilitative services for children with autism aged 4-18 from 10+ nationalities using evidence-based programs including TEACCH, Lovaas, and PECS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autism Education and Therapy Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism-Specific Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Communication Support (AAC, Pragmatics & Language) (EDAKAKAG), Autism Diagnostic & Educational Assessment Services (EDAKAKAA), Autism Early Intervention (Educational) (EDAKAKAB), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ)

Keywords

• Autism education services
• Applied behavior analysis
• Sensory integration therapy
• Vocational rehabilitation programs
• Speech language therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Abu Dhabi

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Educational and Rehabilitative Services: EAC provides educational and rehabilitative care services to children with autism. The center appears to operate as a private specialized center with tuition/rehabilitation fees for services including assessment, speech therapy, occupational therapy, adaptive physical education, and vocational training.
2. Sponsorships and Donations: Corporate sponsors and community partners provide funding through annual sponsorship of Autism Awareness Week events and donations for facility equipment (gym, sensory room, computer department, printing press).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Emirates Autism Center provides diagnostic, educational, and rehabilitative services for children with autism spectrum disorder (ages 4-18) in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Its service portfolio includes formal assessment, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy with sensory integration, adaptive physical education, individualized education programs (IEPs), societal inclusion programs, outdoor activities, and vocational rehabilitation. Programs are delivered using internationally recognized evidence-based methodologies including TEACCH, Lovaas/ABA, and PECS.

Product overview

Emirates Autism Center offers a comprehensive suite of autism therapy and education services operating as an integrated service portfolio rather than a traditional software product. The center provides assessment services (using ADOS-2, PEP-R, DSM-V, AAPEP), speech therapy, occupational therapy with sensory integration, adaptive physical education, and societal inclusion programs. Its therapeutic programs include TEACCH (structured teaching approach), LOVASS (Applied Behaviour Analysis), and PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System). Vocational rehabilitation is delivered through art and craft workshops including leather, printing, carpets, bamboo, and pottery. Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) integrate family counseling and support. Outdoor activities encompass swimming, gymnastics, equestrian sports, and skiing. All services are designed for children ages 4-18 from 10+ nationalities, with a focus on achieving independence and community integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Autism Diagnostic Assessment Services Formal diagnostic assessment for children suspected of or diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, serving parents seeking clinical evaluation and entry into the center's programs.
• Speech and Language Therapy Speech and language therapy services for children with autism, including use of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) to support communication development, targeted at parents of children with communication delays.
• Occupational Therapy with Sensory Integration Occupational therapy services incorporating sensory integration techniques to address sensory processing and motor skill development in children with autism spectrum disorder.
• Adaptive Physical Education Adaptive physical education tailored to the motor and developmental needs of children with autism, supporting physical fitness, coordination, and group participation.
• Societal Inclusion Programs Programs designed to support the inclusion of children with autism into mainstream schools and community life, exemplified by the documented UAE-first high school graduation of an autistic student via formal inclusion.
• Outdoor Activities Program Structured outdoor activities designed to support socialization, community exposure, and practical life skills for children with autism spectrum disorder.
• Vocational Rehabilitation Program Vocational rehabilitation services aimed at older children and young adults with autism, supporting the development of work-related skills and transition toward employment.
• Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) Customized Individualized Education Programs developed for each child, integrating TEACCH and Lovaas/ABA-based instruction to deliver personalized learning plans for children with autism.

Quantifiable outcome

• 54% school inclusion rate achieved by 2011/2012
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and IndustrycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 April 2017Co-organizer of the 10th Autism Awareness Week 2017, partnering with EAC to raise awareness about autism and highlight corporate social responsibility in the UAE. The chamber hosted the press conference launch and facilitated industry partnerships.
• HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al NahyancoreOthers · 2 April 2008UAE Minister of Tolerance (formerly Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development) who has served as patron of EAC's annual Autism Awareness Campaign for 17+ consecutive years. Officially opened the center on April 2, 2008 under the 1st Annual Autism Week.
• Tatweer Company for TourismminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated equipment to build the Center's Gym, demonstrating corporate social responsibility toward children with special needs.
• EMAALminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate social responsibility partner that funded the state-of-the-art sensory integration therapy room, providing specialized equipment for stimulating all five senses.
• Emirates FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated printing press equipment to the center's vocational rehabilitation workshop, supporting art and vocational training programs.
• Abu Dhabi General Information AuthorityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated computer devices to build and develop the Center's Computer Department, supporting technology education.
• Al Jazira Sports ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports venue partner providing facilities for the center's outdoor activities and sports training for several years, offering valuable daily services to the center's children.
• DinanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner supporting the center's outdoor services and sports activities for several years.
• Sparky's Family Sports CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner supporting outdoor services for the center's children, contributing to the center's sports and fitness programs.
• Corporate SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity-minded organizations and individuals who join as sponsors for the annual Autism Awareness Campaign held for 17 years consecutively.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Kuwait Autism Center: Kuwaiti non-profit center providing autism-specific educational and therapeutic services. Comparable service model and regional Gulf context, though geographically distinct from EAC's Abu Dhabi base.
• Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services: UAE-wide special needs provider headquartered in Sharjah delivering assessment, therapy, and vocational programs for people with disabilities including autism. Comparable service model in a neighboring emirate with limited direct overlap with EAC's Abu Dhabi catchment.
• Saudi Arabia Autism Society / Saudi Autism Center: Saudi-based organization delivering autism awareness, assessment, and family-support services. Comparable mission and GCC regional context but operates in a different national market and does not directly compete for EAC's Abu Dhabi families.
• Qatar Society for Autism (QSA): Qatari non-profit providing specialized education and rehabilitation for children with autism. Similar evidence-based service philosophy to EAC within the GCC but serves a separate national population.

Direct peers

• May Institute: US non-profit provider of autism and behavioral health services across education, adult services, and clinical programs. Operates an integrated autism services portfolio analogous to EAC's IEPs-plus-vocational model.
• New England Center for Children: US-based autism education and research center using ABA-based methodology, where EAC's founder trained. Comparable evidence-based program model (ABA/Lovaas, structured teaching) and similar focus on school inclusion outcomes.
• Dubai Autism Center: UAE-based dedicated autism center providing assessment, therapy, and education to children with autism in Dubai. Closest direct comparable to EAC within the same country, serving an overlapping population with similar evidence-based program models.

Broad incumbents

• Abu Dhabi Center for Special Needs: Abu Dhabi-based special education center covering a broader range of disabilities beyond autism. Operates in the same geography as EAC but with a wider portfolio, making it a broad incumbent rather than a direct autism specialist.

Emerging players

• Stars Center for Autism (Egypt): Cairo-based specialized autism center delivering ABA-based intervention, inclusion support, and vocational preparation across the Middle East. Comparable evidence-based methodology and Arab-region service model, though at an earlier stage of geographic expansion than EAC.

Others

• Special Olympics UAE: UAE national organization coordinating sports training and competitions for people of determination, with which EAC partners for adaptive physical education and the annual fitness championship. Comparable UAE footprint and beneficiary overlap, but a sports/advocacy organization rather than a clinical autism provider.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Emirates Autism Center