What age can my child start at the Emirates Down Syndrome Association?

Very early. The association says physiotherapy early intervention starts from three months old, at one session a week, and its services cover all ages, from babies to adults.

Which therapies are offered?

Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, alongside special education sessions and behaviour support. Each child is assessed first and gets an individual plan agreed with the parents.

How much does it cost?

Fees are not published on the website. Ask the association by phone on +971 4 344 4471 or on WhatsApp at +971 56 630 7009.

Can my child join if they already go to a mainstream school?

Yes. The association takes students with Down syndrome who are in mainstream schools for individual sessions, and works with the school on an individual education plan.

Are there sports and arts activities?

Yes. A sports team trains in the evenings all year, with sports including bocce, basketball, bowling, equestrian, golf, swimming, table tennis and badminton, led by a volunteer coach. There are art workshops with Dr Najat Maki and a robotics club. Ask which groups suit your child's age.

Members register and book therapy sessions through the EDSA Platform linked from edsa.ae. Call or WhatsApp the association first to ask about membership and the steps to join.

Emirates Down Syndrome Association جمعية الإمارات لمتلازمة داون — photo

Emirates Down Syndrome Association: therapy, learning and sport in Al Qusais

Special NeedsSpecial Needs Centres

Checked Oct 2026Details checked October 2026

Al Qusais

The Emirates Down Syndrome Association (EDSA) is a non-profit society on Baghdad Street in Al Qusais, founded in September 2006 under a Ministry of Community Development decision. It serves people with Down syndrome of every nationality and age across the UAE. For young children there is early intervention, with physiotherapy starting from three months old, plus occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. School-age children can join rehabilitation classes that use the HELP (Hawaii Early Learning Profile) and Bavaria curricula, and children already in mainstream schools can get individual sessions and help with their school's individual education plan. Beyond therapy, the association runs a sports team that trains in the evenings all year, with sports such as bocce, basketball, swimming and badminton, art workshops with Emirati artist Dr Najat Maki, and a robotics club. Parents get counselling, workshops and family social programmes too. Fees and session times are not on the website, so call or WhatsApp the association to ask about membership.

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The activity

Special Needs Centres, explained

A special needs centre for children with Down syndrome brings therapy, learning and play together under one roof. Babies often start with early intervention: short, regular sessions with a physiotherapist, occupational therapist or speech and language therapist, who also show parents exercises to carry on at home. Older children may join small structured classes built around an individual plan, working on communication, movement, self-care and early academic skills, alongside sport, art and social activities. The aim is independence and confidence, and a smoother path into mainstream school or, later, work. Because every child is different, most centres start with an assessment before agreeing a plan with the family. Physiotherapy at this centre can begin from three months old.

Who it's for

Children, teenagers and adults with Down syndrome, of all nationalities and ages, and their families. Physiotherapy early intervention starts from three months old; rehabilitation classes and individual sessions cover school-age children, including those in mainstream schools; vocational training and employment support focus on young people over 18. Counselling is offered to parents from pregnancy or right after birth.

What to expect

Everything starts with an assessment. Children joining the rehabilitation classes are assessed by the team across all areas of development, then the team writes an individual plan with the parent, sets which therapy sessions are needed and meets the family regularly to review progress and show how to continue at home. For babies, physiotherapy early intervention runs at one session a week from three months, with exercises and advice for parents. Members use the EDSA Platform to register, book therapy sessions and download progress reports. Fees, waiting lists and a trial visit are not described on the website: ask the association.

Highlights

Non-profit society founded in September 2006, serving people with Down syndrome of all ages and nationalities (edsa.ae)
Early intervention with physiotherapy from three months old, one session a week (edsa.ae)
Occupational therapy and speech and language therapy on site (edsa.ae)
Rehabilitation classes using the HELP and Bavaria curricula, with an individual plan for every child (edsa.ae)
Sports team training year-round in the evenings: bocce, basketball, bowling, equestrian, golf, swimming, table tennis and badminton (edsa.ae)
Art workshops with Emirati artist Dr Najat Maki since 2010, plus a robotics club (edsa.ae)

Why parents rate it

What parents say on Google

The association is rated 4.8 on Google from 96 reviews. 82 of those are five stars and 12 are four stars, with one three-star, one two-star and no one-star reviews.

The facts

Ages: All ages, from babies to adults; physiotherapy early intervention from three months
Prices: Not published; ask the association
Schedule: Sports team trains in the evenings year-round; therapy and class times not published
Trial: Ask the provider
Where: Baghdad Street, Al Qusais, Dubai
How to book: edsa.ae · +971 4 344 4471 · wa.me/971566307009 · [email protected]
Opening hours: Mon–Thu7:30am–2:30pm
Fri7:30am–1pm
Sat–SunClosed

Questions parents ask

Good to know

Wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance (Google listing)
Parents can get counselling, training workshops and family social programmes (edsa.ae)
Members register, book therapy sessions and download reports on the EDSA Platform (edsa.ae)
The website is mainly in Arabic, with an English version (edsa.ae)
WhatsApp: +971 56 630 7009; phone: +971 4 344 4471 (edsa.ae)