Occupational Therapy for Children in Dubai
Helping Every Child Take Part in Everyday Life, Their Way
Starwalkers Clinic provides occupational therapy for children in Dubai from our DHA-licensed clinic in Dubai Healthcare City — supporting sensory differences, fine and gross motor skills, handwriting, feeding and everyday independence for children with autism, ADHD and other developmental differences. Sessions cost AED 150–199, with a 10-session package at AED 1,999.
Our occupational therapy is child-led, neurodiversity-affirming, evidence-informed, and family-centred. We celebrate each child’s strengths while supporting the skills of everyday life — play, self-care, learning, and regulation — in ways that feel meaningful, respectful, and sustainable.
Whether your child is navigating sensory differences, developing motor skills, building independence in daily routines, or working towards calm and confident participation, we work alongside families to create therapy that builds confidence, connection, and participation in everyday life.
Who Can Benefit?
Occupational Therapy may benefit children who experience:
Our Areas of Support
Sensory Processing & Regulation
Understanding each child’s unique sensory profile and supporting regulation through sensory strategies, environmental adaptations, and approaches that honour sensory needs — never suppress them.
Fine Motor Development
Building hand strength, grasp patterns, bilateral coordination, and tool use for drawing, cutting, construction play, and everyday tasks.
Gross Motor & Coordination
Developing balance, core strength, postural control, body awareness, and motor confidence through playful, meaningful movement.
Motor Planning & Praxis
Supporting children with dyspraxia and motor planning differences to imagine, sequence, and carry out new movements with growing confidence.
Handwriting & School Readiness
Developing pre-writing skills, letter formation, pencil control, and writing endurance so children can participate comfortably in the classroom.
Self-Care & Independence
Building independence in dressing, toileting, grooming, and daily routines at each child’s own pace and in ways that work for your family.
Feeding & Mealtimes
Supporting children with sensory-based feeding differences through responsive, pressure-free approaches to food exploration and mealtime participation.
Emotional Regulation & Interoception
Helping children notice and understand their body’s signals, build co-regulation with trusted adults, and develop self-advocacy — not masking.
Play & Participation
Supporting authentic, child-led play and meaningful participation with family and peers, without forcing neurotypical play styles.
Executive Functioning
Supporting attention, organisation, transitions, and routines through strategies that work with each child’s brain, not against it.
Our Assessment Process
Every assessment begins by getting to know the child — not just their challenges, but who they are.
They may include:
- Detailed parent interview
- Observation through play and interaction
- Child-led, interest-based assessment
- Sensory profile and regulation observations
- Fine motor, gross motor, and motor planning observations
- Review of self-care and daily living skills
- School participation and handwriting review where relevant
- Standardised assessments when appropriate and clinically indicated
- Collaborative goal setting with families
Following the assessment, families receive:
- A clear explanation of findings
- Individualised recommendations
- Therapy focus areas
- Home and school strategies
- Environmental and sensory adaptations based on the child’s unique processing style
How Therapy Works at Starwalkers
Every therapy plan is individualised. Sessions are designed around:
Our therapists continually adapt sessions based on the child’s sensory profile, regulation, motor development, and everyday goals.
“Rather than following a rigid programme, we follow the child.”
Our Neurodiversity-Affirming Philosophy
All therapy at Starwalkers is neurodiversity-affirming and child-centred.
We do not aim to “fix,” suppress, or mask neurodivergent traits. Instead, we support regulation, independence, and participation in ways that honour each child’s natural neurotype, autonomy, sensory needs, and lived experience.
We believe every child has the right to play, learn, and take part in everyday life — exactly as they are.
Evidence-Informed, Neurodiversity-Affirming Approaches We Use
We use evidence-informed approaches thoughtfully and flexibly. Every strategy is selected according to the child’s individual strengths, sensory preferences, motor profile, regulation, and family goals. Our therapists may draw from:
Every approach is adapted to the child — not the other way around.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need a diagnosis before starting occupational therapy?
No. Many children benefit from early support before receiving a diagnosis.
What age do you work with?
We support infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, and young adults, depending on individual needs.
Will I be involved in therapy?
Absolutely. Parents and caregivers are essential partners in the therapy journey.
Is therapy play-based?
Yes. Therapy is engaging, child-led, and built around meaningful activities that motivate each child.
Do you help with picky eating?
Yes. We support children with sensory-based feeding differences through responsive, pressure-free approaches to food exploration and mealtimes.
Can occupational therapy help with handwriting and school skills?
Yes. We support pre-writing skills, letter formation, pencil control, attention, and classroom participation.
How do you support children with sensory differences?
We start by understanding each child’s unique sensory profile, then support regulation through sensory strategies and environmental adaptations that honour their needs — we never aim to suppress or mask sensory responses.
Do occupational therapy and speech therapy work together?
Yes. Our therapists collaborate closely, and co-treatment sessions are available when they benefit the child.
Where is your clinic located?
We are in Dubai Healthcare City: 214-C, 2nd floor, Block B, Al Razi Medical Complex (Building 64). Online sessions are also available across the UAE.
How do I know if my child needs an occupational therapy assessment?
Common signs include difficulty with dressing or self-care, avoiding messy play or certain textures, clumsiness or frequent falls, trouble holding a pencil or using cutlery, big reactions to sounds or touch, and difficulty settling or transitioning between activities. An assessment gives you clarity either way — and early support never hurts.
How much does occupational therapy cost in Dubai?
At Starwalkers, occupational therapy costs AED 150–199 per session, or AED 1,999 for a 10-session package. Call or WhatsApp us at +971 56 448 1678 and we will walk you through what your child needs.
Parent guides
Straight answers to the questions parents in Dubai ask us most.
- My 2-year-old isn’t talking yet. Should I worry?
- My child doesn’t respond to their name
- Early signs of autism in toddlers
- Speech delay or autism? How to tell the difference
- My child repeats TV lines and everything I say
- Does my child need occupational therapy?
- Covers ears, walks on tiptoes, hates clothes tags
- My child only eats five foods
- Is it ADHD or is my child just active?
- How to get an autism diagnosis in Dubai
- How much does speech therapy cost in Dubai?
- Affordable speech therapy in Dubai (AED 150–199 a session)
- Speech therapy in Dubai: 10 clinics compared
Ready to Begin?
Whether you’re looking for answers, early support, or a therapy team that truly understands your child, we’re here to help.
Book an assessment today and take the first step towards confident participation, growing independence, and everyday joy.
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Visiting us? Our clinic is inside Dubai Healthcare City — see speech and occupational therapy in Dubai Healthcare City for directions, hours (Monday–Sunday, 9 AM–6 PM) and what to expect at your first visit.
Who provides occupational therapy at Starwalkers
Paediatric occupational therapy at Starwalkers Clinic is provided by Senior Occupational Therapist Runjhun Joshi, DHA-licensed, under the clinical direction of founder Nazma Sheikh. Occupational therapy and speech therapy share one plan and one team, with co-treatment sessions when they help the child.
Starwalkers Clinic is a DHA-licensed paediatric clinic in Dubai Healthcare City (Al Razi Medical Complex, Building 64) offering occupational therapy for children with sensory processing differences, autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, handwriting and self-care difficulties and feeding challenges. Therapy is child-led and neurodiversity-affirming and does not use ABA. Sessions cost AED 150–199, or AED 1,999 for a 10-session package, in clinic seven days a week. Related: sensory integration therapy in Dubai.