(Middle East) Autism diagnoses "rising sharply" due to "awareness, broader diagnostic criteria"

June 10, 2026, East Company: Autism diagnosis in the Middle East is soaring, but care remains costly and uneven

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.”. . .

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.  . . .

 “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.. . .

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. . . .