Volunteering with Dubai Autism Center
About Dubai Autism Center
Dubai Autism Center is a non-profit organisation that has supported children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families since 2001. It is based in Garhoud, on 20 B Street opposite the National Charity School, and offers education and intervention for students alongside wider services for the community.
Those community services include an early autism screening questionnaire (M-CHAT), training courses, an Autism-Friendly programme for organisations, and corporate consultation. In other words, the centre works both with the children in its care and with the wider city, helping Dubai become a more understanding place for people with autism.
What volunteers do
The centre runs a structured volunteer programme with three main areas:
- Direct student interaction: hands-on time with students, always supervised by qualified staff or interventionists, including supporting classroom activities.
- Fundraising department: office-based help with database management, fundraising campaigns, event planning and building sponsorship opportunities.
- Annual events: helping with Autism Awareness Month in April and the Ramadan campaign, spreading awareness and helping to create events.
This mix is useful. If you love working with children, there is a classroom route. If you are better with spreadsheets, social media or event logistics, your skills are just as needed behind the scenes.
Who can volunteer
The programme is open to anyone interested in autism and social work. No specific skills are required. The centre says it values compassion, kindness, energy and dedication above formal experience.
Volunteers under 16 need consent from a parent or teacher. The programme runs during the academic year only, so summer placements are not available.
Every new volunteer goes through a structured orientation. After that, the team builds a plan that combines the centre’s needs with your skills, so you are placed where you can help most.
How to get involved
- Read the volunteer page. Start at dubaiautismcenter.ae/volunteer to see the current roles.
- Fill in the online form. Use the “Sign Up” link on the volunteer page to submit your application.
- Wait for the coordinator. The community outreach coordinator will contact you to discuss next steps.
- Attend orientation. You will be introduced to the centre, its approach and how volunteers work with staff.
- Agree your plan. Together you will settle on a role and schedule that suits both sides.
If you have questions before applying, contact Razan Qandil, Community Outreach Coordinator, on 04 398 6862 (extension 220) or at razan.q@dubaiautismcenter.ae.
Upcoming campaigns
The centre’s two big annual moments for volunteers are Autism Awareness Month in April and its Ramadan campaign. Exact dates for 2027 had not been published when we checked, so if you want to help with either, register early in the academic year so you are already through orientation when the busy periods arrive.
Other ways to help
The centre has a Donations and Contributions page on its website. Companies can also explore its Autism-Friendly programme and corporate consultation, which help workplaces and public venues become more welcoming to people with autism. Sponsorship of fundraising campaigns and events is another option for businesses.
Good to know
Routine matters a great deal to many autistic children. If you volunteer in the classroom, turning up on the days you agreed is one of the most helpful things you can do.
Office hours are Monday to Thursday, 7.30am to 5pm, and Friday, 8am to 12pm, so plan calls and visits around those times.
Always follow staff guidance. Interventionists know each child well and will show you how to support them.
If you are a student, this can be a valuable placement for anyone thinking about a career in education, psychology, speech therapy or social work. Ask the coordinator whether the centre can provide a record of your volunteering hours for your school or university, and plan your applications around the academic calendar, since the programme does not run over the summer.
Contact and links
- Website: www.dubaiautismcenter.ae
- Volunteer page: dubaiautismcenter.ae/volunteer
- Volunteer coordinator: razan.q@dubaiautismcenter.ae, 04 398 6862 ext. 220
- General email: info@dubaiautismcenter.ae
- Phone: 04 398 6862 or 04 398 8262
- Address: 20 B Street, opposite National Charity School, Garhoud, Dubai