As part of ensuring the happiness of the community, Dubai’s leadership places high priority on ensuring the welfare of people of determination. All people of determination deserve to receive the highest quality of services
The Beginning
Several years ago, a father was struggling to find an answer to his son’s unexplained difficulties.
It eventually came during a family trip to a shopping mall in Singapore where a stand was set up as part of an awareness campaign. This became his introduction to Autism.
Back in Dubai, he searched for professional help for children diagnosed with Autism, and found none.
So he began his campaign to put this right, dedicating his skills and spare time to meeting with government officials and lobbying for the Autism cause. His efforts were finally rewarded in 2001 by a decree to open a specialized Autism center, the Dubai Autism Center.
The personal experience as a parent had motivated him to work tirelessly, and overcome endless obstacles, to learn more about Autism and use it to help other families in the same situation.
It’s with this same spirit of determination and compassion that he and all the center’s staff and board members continue to work, providing the best possible services to children diagnosed with Autism in the UAE.
Mission
To successfully include children with autism into our community through holistic approaches to their education and therapeutic interventions; together with our focused efforts to create social awareness about autism.
Vision
A center of excellence having highly trained professionals to provide evidence-based and accredited programs to support individuals with autism and their families, and to be an internationally recognized autism-consultancy center for the region.
History
Dubai Autism Center (DAC) is a non-profit organization founded by a decree issued by H.H. Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2001. Initially, the center operated as a resource/counseling center with 3 members of staff and in January 2003 was launched as an intervention center.
In 2017, The DAC opened its new building on an area of 91.000 square meters with a capacity of around 238 children. The new center has been designed based on the latest international standards to provide a special educational environment for children with autism.
Board Members
Hesham Al Qassim
Chairman
Chief Executive Officer of Wasl Asset Management Group
Mr. Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim is the Chief Executive Officer for wasl Asset Management Group and is responsible for leading the organization’s transformation into a world-class asset management company.
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He is also the Deputy Chairman of Emirates NBD Bank PJSC, the Chairman of Emirates Islamic, one of the leading Islamic banks in the region and Emirates NBD Egypt; both are subsidiaries of Emirates NBD PJSC.
Hisham Al Qasim is a member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Program for Leadership Development and holds a Master’s Degree in International Business. He is also a member of the Financial Markets Court of the Dubai Financial Services Authority and a member of the Board of Directors of the DME and the Board of Directors of Amlak Finance.
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Sami Al Reyami
Vice Chairman
Al Emarat Alyoum Editor in Chief
Sami Al Reyami is the Editor in Chief of Al Emarat Alyoum since 2005. He is also a journalist and columnist at the newspaper. Previously, he worked at Al Bayan Newspaper. His writings focus on Local issues.
Al Reyami published two books in Arabic:
- “Oyoun Al-kalam” (Speech of Eyes)
- “Kainaat fi hikayaat” (Creatures within Stories)
Dr. Hind AbdulWahed Hassan Alrustamani
Board Member
Dr.Hind is the CEO & Founder of Aman Lil Afia Clinic, Counseling Psychologist. previously, she worked as a senior Counselor at Tabyeen Center for Psychological & Family Counseling.
(2012-2023).
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Additionally, she has held significant roles at Zayed University as: Senior Student Counselor, Director of the Student Counseling Center, and Assistant Provost for Student Affairs (2013-2021)
Dr. Hind’s received her education and experience in counseling psychology in Britain, Switzerland and the UAE.
Her experience encompasses a range of therapeutic approaches, including person-centered therapy, play therapy, Eye Movement Desensitizing Reprocessing (EMDR), and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT).
She specializes in working with children, adolescent and adults on disorders such as anxiety, depression, trauma, post traumatic stress disorder and behavioral challenges.
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Ms. Saleha Khalifa Bin Thiban Alfalasi
Board Member
Dr.Shaikha AlRaeesi
Board Member
DDS, MSc in Pediatric Dentistry Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry Department, Dubai Health Authority
Dr.Shaikha AlRaeesi, obtained her Pediatric Dentistry and Master of Science degree at Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine MBRU during 2017-2019,
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Dr.Shaikha had published four scientific articles in International Journals that were related to her specialty. She was a member in various task force committees, which are SALAMA documentation audit task force, Dental residency task force, Dental Audit and Publication task force and Staff Qualification and Education Committee taskforce.
She is currently working as a Specialist Pediatric Dentist at Dubai Health Authority, in addition to that she is also the co-director of dental residency program and Dental In-charge of AlMamzer Primary Healthcare Center.
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Mohammed Al Emadi
Board Member
- Member of Advisory Council for People of Determination
- Dubai Cares Foundation Board Member
- Head of Executive Committee at Princess Haya Award for Special Education
- Dubai Autism Center Board Member & Director General
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Mohammad Amin Al Emadi is a Board Member and Director General of Dubai Autism Center, a position he has held since 2005. In addition to his position at the DAC, he is also the Head of Executive Committee at Princess Haya Award for Special Education, and he is a Member of the Advisory Council for People of Determination in UAE. Also, he is one of Dubai Cares’ Board Members. His current positions follow several positions at various government departments including: Project Manager of the Dubai Cares Campaign (2007), Project Director in the Executive Office of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (1998 – 2005), Deputy Coordinator-General for Dubai Quality Award in the Department of Economic Development (1993 – 1998).
Al Emadi had owned the idea of establishing the Dubai Autism Center, and he has taken it upon himself to spread awareness about autism.
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