SADEQ ALKHOORI (ABU DHABI)

Abu Dhabi's progress in caring for people with autism and advances in care, global cooperation and innovation came to the fore at the 4th International Autism Conference in Abu Dhabi.

Held at the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre under the theme "Autism: Innovation and Artificial Intelligence" from April 25 to 28, the event brought together experts, specialists and decision-makers from around the world to explore solutions, particularly the deployment of artificial intelligence in developing early detection tools, and address challenges and enhance care and inclusion for children and adults with autism worldwide.

The conference is organised by the Zayed Authority for People of Determination, in collaboration with Lotus Holistic Group, ADNOC, and the Skills4Mind platform, in strategic partnership with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi, and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, alongside a broad network of international partners.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), autism spectrum disorder is a diverse group of conditions related to development of the brain, characterised by varying degrees of difficulty with social interaction and communication. 

In 2021, about 1 in 127 people globally had autism, according to WHO. It also says that diagnosis is generally possible in early childhood, even though many people are diagnosed much later.

Speaking to Aletihad, parents of children with autism, experts and volunteers highlighted the need for greater acceptance, awareness, community initiatives, and most importantly skills-building.

Dr Fidaa Al Niyab, speaking from the perspective of raising a 19-year-old daughter with a rare syndrome, autism and ADHD, told Aletihad that support in the UAE had made a practical difference, from easier paperwork and home-based services to broader institutional guidance.

However, she said services alone are not enough. Families still need acceptance, awareness and a clear focus on building the child's mental, behavioural and life skills before expecting full inclusion in school. "Acceptance is the first step in treatment," she said. "Skills are the foundation."

Meera Mohammed Alshamsi, Genetics Genome Analyst at Zayed Authority for People of Determination, Chair of its Youth Council, and Vice Chair of the Health and Functioning Committee, told Aletihad that support should not stop at care alone, but extend to participation in public life, community initiatives and everyday systems. "They are a community," she said.

Drawing on her work with the Youth Council, Alshamsi said part of the effort has been to amplify the voices of People of Determination and build partnerships across sectors. At the conference, she said, youth partners included the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Airports, Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters and Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre.

Early-intervention Work in Abu Dhabi
The conference took place against a backdrop of wider disability and early-intervention work in Abu Dhabi. The Department of Community Development said the emirate's people of determination database had grown to more than 28,000 registered people, while a priority portfolio of 22 therapeutic, rehabilitative, educational and social care services had been activated for people of determination and their families.

The same update said more than 5,000 developmental screenings were completed across Abu Dhabi's three regions between May 2023 and September 2024, with 18.2% of children under three showing potential developmental challenges requiring early assessment.

It also said more than 300 doctors had been trained in developmental surveillance and screening, while 10,000 copies of the Abu Dhabi Early Intervention Guide were distributed in Arabic and English.

The Zayed Authority for People of Determination also said it provided services to more than 28,000 beneficiaries in 2025, including 2,100 students enrolled across its centres. It said it completed more than 40,000 digital transactions, issued 1,706 people of determination cards, delivered 83,671 therapeutic and rehabilitation sessions, and produced 2,990 specialised reports and evaluations.

Skills Training
Fathiya Qasim Saeed Al-Nazari, an Emirati humanitarian and veteran volunteer, told Aletihad that caring for an autistic child within her family led her to deepen her own training and understanding. "I became their mother, teacher and trainer inside the home," she said.

The Federal National Council's Education, Culture, Youth, Sports and Media Affairs Committee said this week that a virtual discussion on integrating people of determination into education and work highlighted the need to better prepare educational and administrative staff, provide qualified shadow teachers, align education with labour market needs, and expand technical skills training. The committee said those observations would be included in its final report on the issue.

Dr Fatma Redene, a senior healthcare executive at Lotus Holistic in the UAE, told Aletihad that continued progress in autism support will depend heavily on building the right skills.

"The most important challenge is skills-building," she said, adding that ideas alone will not matter without the right human resources and training.