Online child therapy in the UAE and Dubai
Poorvam Care's RCI-registered therapists, based in Bengaluru, give live one-to-one speech therapy, occupational therapy, behaviour support and learning support over video to children in the UAE. Sessions are 45 minutes, 3 pm to 8 pm UAE time, in English or your home language. It is private pay.
- Session times, UAE time
- 3 pm – 8 pm
- India is ahead by
- 90 min
- Languages
- 6
- Therapists
- RCI registered
Can my child have online therapy in the UAE?
Families across the UAE book with us. Here is what you should know before booking.
- Your family's languageTherapy in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.
- A clear cost up frontExplained on the consultation call, before you commit. No assessment-first pricing reveal.
- Gulf Standard TimeSessions 3 pm to 8 pm, including evenings after school.
- RCI-registered cliniciansRegistered with the Rehabilitation Council of India, with 13+ years of clinical experience.
It is not billable to UAE health insurance. Enhanced plans that cover therapy require a DHA-licensed provider and usually a physician referral.
The easiest time zone we work with
India is 90 minutes ahead of the UAE, so after-school slots line up neatly.
A 3 pm session in Dubai is 4:30 pm in Bengaluru; an 8 pm finish is 9:30 pm. The UAE has no daylight saving, so the same weekly slot holds all year.
- Your session window, UAE time
- 3 pm – 8 pm
- Same window, India time
- 4:30 – 9:30 pm
Online with us or a clinic in the UAE?
An honest comparison. For some children an in-person clinic is the better choice.
| Question | Online with Poorvam Care | A clinic in the UAE |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Private pay. Not billable to UAE insurance. | Enhanced plans may cover a DHA-licensed provider, usually with referral. |
| Knowing the cost | A clear figure on the consultation call, before you commit. | Many clinics quote only after an assessment. |
| Languages | English plus Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada. | Varies by clinic. |
| Travel | None. Sessions at home after school. | A drive across the city each week. |
| Feeding, swallowing, hands-on OT | Not suitable online. | Better in person. |
Why UAE families choose online therapy
Children's speech therapy in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is largely paid out of pocket. The mandatory basic health insurance package excludes allied health services, so unless a family holds an enhanced corporate plan, therapy is paid privately, and a year of weekly sessions adds up.
Pricing is often opaque: many clinics do not publish rates, and the cost of the programme emerges after the assessment. We do it the other way round, with a clear figure for your child's plan on the consultation call.
There is a language reason too. Many children in the UAE grow up between English and a home language such as Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu or Kannada. Assessing a bilingual child accurately needs a clinician who understands both languages, or the home language gets mistaken for a delay. For a family raising a bilingual child in Dubai or Sharjah, that is often the difference between a useful assessment and a misleading one.
What an online session looks like
45 minutes over secure video, with you beside your child. Then a plan for the week.
- Join from homeOpen the video link on a laptop, tablet or phone, in a quiet room.
- Therapy, liveThe therapist works with your child one to one. You sit alongside.
- Coaching youFor OT and behaviour goals, the therapist coaches you to run each activity.
- A plan to keepEvery session ends with a written summary and a home activity plan.
- 45 minutes, live and one to one
- Activities built around your child's goals
- The last minutes on what to practise
- A home activity plan after every session
- Short practice inside meals, baths and play
- Notes and messages on your phone
What you need at home
No special equipment. Four things make a session work.
- A laptop or tablet, ideallyA bigger screen lets your child see the therapist's mouth and materials. A phone works if that is what you have.
- A stable connectionHome broadband or a steady mobile signal, so the video does not freeze mid-activity.
- A quiet roomFew toys in view, the TV off, and no one else needing the room for 45 minutes.
- You, close byWith younger children a parent stays in the room throughout, to help them engage and to learn the practice.
Therapies available online in the UAE
Each page is honest about what that therapy does well over video, and what needs a room.
- Speech and language therapyLate talking, unclear speech, language delay, stammering, and communication for autistic children.
- Occupational therapySensory strategies, fine motor skills, handwriting, self-care routines and regulation, coached through you.
- Behaviour therapy and parent trainingABA-informed help with meltdowns, transitions, sleep, toileting and daily routines, delivered by coaching you.
- Special educationRemedial teaching for reading, writing and maths difficulties, including dyslexia and ADHD.
You shouldn't have to guess how therapy is going
You get a live view of your child's therapy on your phone, not a word at the end of a call.
- Your schedule, always visibleSee every upcoming session, and book or reschedule yourself, without phone tag.
- The actual therapy goalsWritten down and tracked, not a vague "she's doing well".
- Session notes and reportsWhat happened in each session and how your child is progressing.
- Home practice, spelled outThe activities to do between sessions, with instructions, because most progress happens at home.
- Your therapist, a message awayAsk a question between sessions instead of saving it for the next one.
- Billing you can checkSessions attended, what has been paid and what is outstanding. No surprises at month end.
How to start
From booking to a weekly slot, in five steps.
- Book onlineTell us your child's age, what you are seeing and which country you live in.
- We call you backWithin one working day, by phone or WhatsApp, to find a time that suits you.
- Consultation callA short call in UAE time. We say honestly whether online suits your child.
- Assessment over videoThe therapist works with your child while you watch, then proposes goals.
- Weekly sessions45 minutes at a regular time, with goals reviewed with you.
Meet the team or see how online therapy works.
Online therapy in the UAE: questions
Can I claim this on my UAE health insurance?
No. This is a private-pay service and it is not billable to UAE health insurance. The mandatory basic package in Dubai excludes allied health services such as speech therapy in any case, and enhanced plans that do cover therapy require the provider to be DHA-licensed and usually need a physician referral. We would rather say this plainly than have you find out after starting therapy.
What languages do your therapists work in?
English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. This matters for bilingual children. A child growing up between English and a home language often shows patterns that look like a delay when assessed only in English, but are typical for a bilingual learner. Assessing across both languages is the only reliable way to tell the difference, and a common reason bilingual children are over-diagnosed or missed.
What times are sessions available?
Between 3 pm and 8 pm, UAE time. India is only 90 minutes ahead of Gulf Standard Time, which makes the UAE the easiest place for us to schedule. After-school and early-evening slots are straightforward, and we can usually offer the same time every week rather than moving your child around.
How does an online session actually work?
You need a laptop or tablet with a camera, a reasonably stable connection and a quiet room. Sessions run 45 minutes over secure video. With younger children a parent stays in the room throughout, partly to help keep your child engaged and partly because much of the progress comes from what you do between sessions. Every session ends with a home activity plan and a written summary.
Is online therapy suitable for my child?
It depends on the therapy and on your child. Speech and language therapy and caregiver-led behaviour work translate well to video, with results comparable to in-person sessions. Special education is close to format-neutral. Occupational therapy works well as parent coaching, but not for goals needing hands-on assessment or clinic equipment. Feeding and swallowing difficulties do need someone in the room. The consultation call tells you which applies, including when you should see someone locally in person.
How much does online therapy cost?
Fees depend on the type of therapy and how often your child needs sessions. We explain them on the consultation call, once we understand your child's needs, and you have a clear figure for your child's plan before you commit to anything.
Which parts of the UAE do you work with?
Families anywhere in the UAE, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. The whole country is on Gulf Standard Time with no daylight saving, so your slot stays the same all year.
Start with a consultation call
Tell us about your child. We call back within one working day and say honestly whether online therapy fits.