Nurturing Every Mind: Understanding Special Needs and Mental Health Support in Dubai

Retrieve Mind Poly Clinic – Empowering Children, Families, and Educators Across Dubai Marina, Barsha Heights, and Al Barsha

Dubai is home to a growing network of schools, therapy providers, and family-focused healthcare centers that together make the city one of the most supportive environments for children of determination and their families. Within this thriving ecosystem, Retrieve Mind Poly Clinic, located in Dubai Media City, provides comprehensive psychiatric and psychological care for children and adolescents — complementing the work of therapy and learning centers across the city.

Happy family embracing their son with special needs — representing inclusive mental health and special needs support

The Broader Landscape of Special-Needs Support in Dubai

Families today have access to many specialized services across areas like Al Barsha, Jumeirah, Sheikh Zayed Road, and Garhoud — including institutions such as:

• Dubai Centre for Special Needs (DCSN) near Safa Park, offering structured learning and life-skills training.

• Al Noor Rehabilitation & Welfare Association in Al Barsha 1, known for vocational education and therapy programs.

• Rashid Centre for People of Determination, also in Al Barsha, provides day-care and rehabilitation services.

• Safe Center for Autism and Special Needs and Hemam Learning Difficulties Centre, both supporting children with autism, speech, and social skills development.

• Senses Residential & Day Care Centre, one of the UAE’s few full-time residential facilities for children of determination.

• Dubai Autism Center (DAC) in Garhoud is offering diagnostic and therapeutic care for autism.

• Sensation Station, Small Steps, and SEED Special Education Center, which provide speech therapy, ABA, occupational therapy, and early intervention for younger children.

• Special Needs Future Development Center (SNF) and My Maximus, focusing on life skills and vocational support for teenagers and adults.

  
  

These institutions demonstrate Dubai’s commitment to inclusion and holistic care for people of determination.

How Retrieve Mind Complements These Services

While therapy centers focus on behavioural, educational, and rehabilitative interventions, Retrieve Mind Poly Clinic addresses the medical and psychological side of development and well-being. Our specialists provide:

• Comprehensive psychiatric evaluations for attention difficulties, anxiety, depression, and behavioural regulation.

• Medication management,t where clinically appropriate coordinated with ongoing therapy plans.

• Family and parental counselling, helping caregivers navigate emotional stress and burnout.

• Psychological assessments that guide educational planning and therapy goals.

  
  

Families who already receive services from therapy or special-needs centres often find it valuable to combine those with specialist psychiatric input from Retrieve Mind — ensuring a unified understanding of their child’s strengths, emotional needs, and long-term growth plan.

Supporting Children of Determination Holistically

Children with conditions such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, or learning difficulties may experience emotional challenges like frustration, low confidence, or anxiety. At Retrieve Mind, we help children build coping skills, emotional regulation, and resilience through:

• Psychiatric care guided by international best practices.

• Psychological counselling for emotional and behavioural management.

• Parent sessions that teach effective strategies for home and school support.

Our goal is to ensure that each child, regardless of ability, feels safe, understood, and empowered to thrive.

Located at the Heart of Dubai’s Care Network

Retrieve Mind Poly Clinic’s Dubai Media City location places it just minutes away from Al Barsha, Barsha Heights, JLT, and Dubai Marina, where many of the city’s leading schools and special-needs facilities are based. This central positioning allows families to coordinate medical and therapeutic appointments conveniently — a vital factor for children managing multiple therapies.

Creating an Inclusive Future

Dubai’s education and healthcare community — from mainstream schools to centres such as Al Noor, DCSN, Senses, and Rashid Centre — reflects the city’s evolving understanding of inclusion. At Retrieve Mind, we share that vision. By addressing emotional well-being alongside developmental needs, we help ensure that every child of determination receives complete, compassionate care — for the mind as well as the body.

Visit Retrieve Mind Poly Clinic

Families seeking child and adolescent psychiatric support in Dubai can contact:

👉 Call or WhatsApp: +971 50 206 6563 / +971 43 99 6919

 📍 Location: 1914, 19th Floor, Concord Tower, Al Burooj Street, Al Sufouh 2, Dubai Media City, near Palm Jumeirah Tram Station

Schedule your Appointment Now!

Written by: Dr. Aju Abraham, MBBS (University of Kerala, India), MRCPSYCH (The Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK), Certificate of Completion Of Specialist Training (The Specialist Training Authority of the Medical Royal Colleges, UK), Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Therapy ( University of Durham, UK) Consultant Psychiatrist, Medical Director, Retrieve Mind Poly Clinic (25+ years experience, UK NHS & Middle East)

About the Author

Dr. Aju Abraham is a Consultant Psychiatrist and the Medical Director of Retrieve Mind Poly Clinic, Dubai Media City. He has over 25 years of clinical experience in psychiatry, spanning the UK National Health Service (NHS), Qatar, and the UAE.

His expertise covers adult psychiatry, mood and anxiety disorders, ADHD, relationship difficulties, and workplace stress.

Dr. Abraham’s approach integrates evidence-based medicine with a compassionate understanding of modern urban lifestyles. He regularly contributes to mental health awareness across educational and corporate settings in Dubai and Doha. corporate settings in Dubai and Doha.