What does ABA therapy actually cost in Dubai?

Cost is usually one of the first practical questions families ask about ABA therapy, and it's a fair one — a proper programme is a real ongoing commitment, not a one-off expense.

What actually drives the price

The therapist's credentials matter most. A BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) designs and supervises the programme and bills at a higher hourly rate; day-to-day sessions are usually delivered by an RBT or technician-level therapist working under that supervision, at a lower rate. More BCBA oversight generally means tighter programme quality, but also a higher cost per hour.

Hours per week make the biggest difference to the total bill. A few hours of targeted support each week costs far less overall than an intensive early intervention programme running 20-plus hours. Setting matters too — home-based one-to-one sessions typically cost more per hour than centre-based sessions, and the intensity of the programme, including how many goals are being targeted and how much parent training and data review is built in, shifts the number further.

A general sense of the Dubai market

As informational context only: private ABA providers in Dubai commonly charge somewhere in the region of AED 200 to AED 500+ per hour, with BCBA-led time at the upper end and RBT or technician-delivered sessions lower down. An intensive, full-time programme adds up quickly once you multiply an hourly rate by the recommended weekly hours. Coverage varies by insurer and policy, so it's worth checking what your specific plan includes rather than assuming it covers everything, or nothing.

Why we assess first

Any provider quoting one flat number for "ABA therapy" before meeting your child is guessing — the right mix of hours, therapist level, and setting depends entirely on what your child needs right now. That only becomes clear through a proper look at their current skills, behaviours, and goals, not a phone quote.

Ready for a number based on your child, not a guess? Book an assessment and we'll give you a clear, specific estimate afterwards.