Two decades ago, autism was diagnosed infrequently across the Middle East, leaving many children and adults without the support they needed.

Today, diagnoses are rising sharply. Around 1.8% of children in Saudi Arabia are estimated to be on the autism spectrum, while in the UAE, autism affects 1 in 146 births. According to the WHO, 13 Arab countries — including Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Kuwait — now rank among the top 20 globally for autism prevalence.

This surge does not necessarily mean autism itself is increasing. It reflects a deeper understanding of the condition and awareness, broader diagnostic criteria, improved screening, and more clinicians equipped to identify the condition. 

In many ways, this is a long-overdue correction to decades of underdiagnosis. But the bigger question now is not whether more children are being identified — but whether systems are truly prepared to support them.

Despite the rapid growth of therapy centers and awareness campaigns, accessing quality coordinated autism care across much of the region remains fragmented. Many autistic children still might not receive the support they need.

ACCESS AND AWARENESS

An autism diagnosis can finally open the door to understanding, support, and community. This is true for parents who have spent years searching for answers about their child’s challenges, as well as for adults who receive a diagnosis later in life after years of struggle, isolation, and feeling different.

“In many Arab countries, autism services have expanded significantly over the past decade, with more therapy centers and trained specialists now available than before,” says Marilena di Coste, a disability advocate and CEO & Founder of The Butterfly. “This has improved overall access and awareness, including growing recognition of support needs across different age groups.”

In the UAE, the Brain & Performance Center in Dubai is a key driver of autism efforts with a structured, data-driven program to optimize cognitive and physical performance. In Abu Dhabi, Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination (ZHO) delivers care and rehabilitation programs to over 500 students with autism.

In conjunction with this, there’s more sympathetic public awareness of autism. In April, in the UAE, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) introduced sensory rooms at a couple of bus stations as part of its efforts to enhance the travel experience for People of Determination, particularly children with autism.

Dr. Craig Cook, CEO of Brain & Performance Center (a DP World company), says there is an “increased investment from both government and private sectors into structured, multidisciplinary models of care.”

CARE IS UNEVEN

Even though more centers and trained specialists are available, diagnosis rates are rising just as quickly. This means many licensed facilities still have waiting lists, according to Shrav Shankar, a psychologist at Peninsula Psychology in Dubai. 

“Long wait times can translate to delayed care, which can have compounding effects in autism, as early intervention allows for better developmental outcomes. When we think of an autistic child with high support needs, these delays can compound significantly,” he says. Accessibility can also be impacted by language requirements for services, the increasing costs of services and challenges in accessing early diagnosis, Shankar adds.

In the UAE, for example, di Coste says, most specialized centers are concentrated in major cities, such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai, “while rural or less central areas often have limited access.” 

“This can mean long travel distances for families, which may reduce the consistency of therapy and affect outcomes,” she adds.

More care centers where more children have better access to speech therapists to practice language, occupational therapists to work on motor skills, and pediatricians to monitor their medications means better access. Even more important is the expertise of the professionals and having a unified clinical approach.

However, Dr. Cook says “truly coordinated” care remains less common. 

“Demand continues to outpace supply, and there is still a shortage of trained specialists across key disciplines. More importantly, services can often remain fragmented, with assessment, therapy, and follow-up delivered in isolation rather than as part of a unified clinical pathway,” he says.

For autistic children, who depend on routine, that is especially disruptive.

From both a clinical and personal perspective, Dr. Cook adds, this lack of coordination is something many families experience firsthand. “As a parent of a child with autism, I have seen how navigating multiple providers, systems, and approaches can quickly become overwhelming.”

“What families need is clarity, continuity, and a sense that care is connected, not fragmented,” he adds. 

FINANCIAL BARRIER AND POORER OUTCOME

The rise of demand for support services has also pushed up costs. 

“Cost is a major factor affecting access to autism care, and it can result in many children not receiving the level of support they need,” says di Coste.

She adds that services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral interventions are expensive and require long-term, repeated sessions. “In systems where insurance coverage or public services are limited, families may struggle to afford consistent care or may have to reduce the amount of therapy their child receives.”

Emphasizing that quality coordinated care remains quite expensive, Shankar says it is also impacted by health insurance plans, with “some offering very limited coverage for a very limited number of speech or behavioral therapy sessions while others can omit these altogether.”

This financial barrier is linked to poorer outcomes, di Coste says, mainly because early and regular intervention is important for developing communication, social, and daily living skills. 

“When care is delayed, reduced, or inconsistent due to cost, children may miss key developmental opportunities.”

IMPROVING SUPPORT SERVICES

As diverse as the experiences of children and adults on the autism spectrum are, one sobering fact holds true: Compared with non-autistic people, they are about 70-80% more likely to have poor mental and physical health, experience educational under-attainment, unemployment and underemployment, victimization, and social isolation. 

Autism awareness has grown, and doctors are better at identifying a condition once widely underdiagnosed. But diagnosis alone is not enough. Families still face steep barriers to care — barriers that can and should be lowered through a more accommodating system, backed by practical tools, clear guidance, and sustained support in the care pathway.

In 2025, Aisha Al Mansoori, Director of the Abu Dhabi Autism Center, emphasized the importance of collective action, calling on institutions and individuals to enhance awareness—particularly in educational settings—to create a more inclusive society.

She highlighted the crucial role of early detection in facilitating integration, stating, “The earlier the intervention, the easier it is to develop the student’s abilities by focusing on education and enhancing their academic and social skills.”

And while progress has been made in the region, experts say there are certain measures that could improve autism care and access. 

“More financially reasonable solutions need to be there so a wider pool of autistic people can access care, alongside a more equitable distribution of centers,” says di Coste. “The awareness and involvement of autistic adults in therapeutic measures needs to be increased to make it more holistic.” 

It’s not simply about expanding capacity, but improving how care is delivered. This means, Dr. Cook says, building integrated models that bring diagnostics, therapy, and long-term monitoring into a single, continuous framework. “When clinicians are able to track progress over time and adapt interventions accordingly, outcomes become more consistent and measurable.”

Investment in specialist training is also important, particularly across behavioral therapy, speech and language, and developmental support. 

At the same time, expanding access beyond major cities will be essential to ensure families are not limited by geography when seeking care.

Equally important, Dr. Cook adds, is the alignment between healthcare, education, and family support systems. “Autism does not sit within a single domain, and effective care requires coordination across all environments in which a child develops and functions.”

Modifying the autism care system to make it as comfortable and unified as possible is key, but this is only part of it.

The most meaningful progress often happens outside of clinical sessions, in everyday moments at home, says Dr. Cook. “When families are equipped with the right knowledge and support, they become an essential extension of the care pathway. When families are empowered as active partners in the process, outcomes are not only improved, but far more sustainable over time.”