Under the patronage of Khalid bin Zayed/The Fourth International Autism Conference begins on April 25

ABU DHABI, 2 April / WAM / The Emirate of Abu Dhabi continues to consolidate its position as a leading global center in supporting and empowering people of determination, by organizing the Fourth International Autism Conference 2026 during the period from 25 to 28 April this year at the Abu Dhabi Energy Center, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Authority for People of Determination, and with broad international participation of experts, specialists and decision makers.

The conference is organized by the Zayed Authority for People of Determination, in cooperation with the Lotus Holistic Group, ADNOC, and the global “Skills4Mind” platform, and in strategic partnership with the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, in addition to a wide network of international partners.

It is expected that the fourth session will witness the participation of more than 3,000 participants, from more than 25 countries, and attract an elite group of international experts and speakers. It will also include the launch of specific initiatives and training programs, in addition to expanding the scope of the Innovation and Technical Solutions Exhibition.

The fourth session of the conference is an extension of the success of previous sessions, as the third session in 2025 achieved prominent qualitative indicators, with the participation of more than 2,000 participants from 15 countries, confirming the growing international presence and consolidating the conference’s position as a global platform specialized in the field of autism.

It recorded a strong regional presence with clear leadership for the UAE, which topped the list of participants with 1,360 participants, along with more than 400 international participants from various continents.

In its fourth session, the conference is based on building on the results of the previous three sessions, by expanding the scope of international participation, enhancing the use of artificial intelligence in diagnosis and rehabilitation, launching advanced training programs, in addition to developing evidence-based service models, which contribute to achieving a sustainable impact that extends from the individual to the family and society.

It covers six strategic axes, including artificial intelligence and innovation, scientific research, societal integration, comprehensive work environments, excellence in health care, and the development of inclusive education. It also includes an integrated program that includes a specialized scientific conference, applied workshops, and a training camp in artificial intelligence, in addition to an innovation exhibition that showcases the latest technical solutions in the field of autism.

The conference coincides with the declaration of 2026 as the “Year of the Family” in the UAE, emphasizing the pivotal role of the family as a major partner in the journey of rehabilitation and empowerment, and reflects a national trend linking the quality of services and family stability.

His Excellency Abdullah Abdul-Ali Al-Humaidan, Director General of the Zayed Authority for People of Determination, confirmed that the results of the third session of the conference reflect its success in achieving a tangible impact, indicating that in this session, the achievements achieved are being built upon, by expanding the use of artificial intelligence, strengthening international partnerships, and transforming the conference’s outcomes into practical applications that contribute to improving the quality of life.

He stressed the focus on achieving a sustainable impact based on integration between sectors, empowering families, and developing evidence-based services, in a way that enhances the comprehensive empowerment system.

For her part, Amina Al-Haidan, CEO of the International Autism Conference and CEO of the Lotus Holistic Group, confirmed that the Fourth International Autism Conference 2026 in Abu Dhabi comes as a continuation of a well-established scientific and societal process that was launched in its previous sessions, with the aim of strengthening an integrated system that supports people with autism spectrum disorder and their families in accordance with the best international practices.

She pointed out that the launch of the “Smile/Your smile is enough to make them happy” campaign in 2025 constituted a societal extension of these efforts, pointing out that the selection of the artist Jomana Murad as Autism Ambassador for the year 2026 came based on her ability to deliver the humanitarian message in an influential manner, and her realistic embodiment of the challenges of autism families through her participation in the Color Blue series, which contributed to enhancing community awareness and transferring the issue to the conscience of society.

She added that the conference aims to transform this awareness into qualitative initiatives and sustainable solutions that start from the family and extend to society, within a vision that combines science, humanity and innovation.

For his part, Dr. Taha Raydan, founder of Skills4Mind, General Director of Data and Artificial Intelligence Strategy, and General Chairman of the Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Hub at the conference, confirmed that the fourth edition of the conference will highlight the role of artificial intelligence and innovation in supporting individuals with autism, through developing smart tools for early detection, personal learning, and enhancing communication and emotional support, which contributes to enhancing independence and social integration.

He pointed out that the conference will bring together an elite group of experts, researchers and international companies to review the latest scientific and applied solutions in this field, in addition to launching a specialized training bootcamp from “Skills4Mind” to enhance the responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence in the health care sectors and emerging technologies.

The 2026 cycle is based on building on these results, by expanding the use of artificial intelligence in diagnosis and rehabilitation, launching advanced training programs, and strengthening international partnerships, which contributes to the development of more efficient and sustainable services.

Indicators of professional participation in the third session of the conference showed qualitative diversity that reflects the integration between sectors, as more than 480 specialists in the education sector and more than 400 health care service providers participated in the conference sessions, in addition to more than 380 therapists from various specialties, which enhances the multidisciplinary work approach in developing autism services.

At the level of stakeholder representation, the conference witnessed broad participation that reflects the strength of community interaction and institutional support, as direct service providers constituted 78% of participants, along with 12% of representatives of family and community support and empowerment, and 10% of leaders and policy makers, in an indicator that reflects the integration of roles between the various stakeholders.

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