September 17 2019  |  Retailers

Dubai Duty Free executives visit Dubai Autism Center

By Hibah Noor


Left to right: Ajit Moorkoth, Autism Program Head, Olympia Pineda, Manager – Corporate Responsibility Department, Dubai Duty Free, Joyce Chamoun, Project Manager, Dubai Autism, Ramesh Cidambi, COO, DDF, Mohammad Al Emadi, Director General, Dubai Autism, Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, DDF, Salah Tahlak, Executive Vice President – Corporate Services, DDF, Sinead El Sibai, SVP-Marketing, DDF, Mona Ibrahim, Occupational Therapy & Creative Department Manager, Dubai Autism, Priyanka Sahu, Speech Department & Strategic Education Manager, Dubai Autism and Bernard Creed, SVP-Finance, DDF

Dubai Duty Free’s Executive Vice Chairman & CEO Colm McLoughlin and senior management visited Dubai Autism Center (DAC) in Al Garhoud, meeting students and program heads as they toured the new state-of-the-art facility on September 11.

McLoughlin and the team were briefed on DAC’s operations as they visited classrooms and clinics and met officials in charge of the educational, therapeutic assessment and rehabilitation programs.

Dubai Duty Free has supported the Dubai Autism Center since 2004 through the operation’s charitable foundation.

Expressing his support for the center, McLoughlin said: “I am very impressed with the facilities here at the new Dubai Autism Center and delighted with the progress that has been made by Mr. Al Emadi and his team. The facility provides essential support to students with autism and their families and the standard of care and dedication by the staff is second to none.”

Mohammed Al Emadi, Director General and Board Member of DAC, said: “Our thanks and appreciation to Dubai Duty Free for their continued support to improve the center’s services provided to children with autism.”

Mr. Emadi also commended the efforts and longstanding commitment of Dubai Duty Free to humanitarian and community projects in the UAE.

McLoughlin was accompanied on his visit by Dubai Duty Free’s Chief Operating Officer, Ramesh Cidambi, Salah Tahlak, Executive Vice President – Corporate Services, Sinead El Sibai, Senior Vice President - Marketing, Bernard Creed, Senior Vice President – Finance, and Olympia Pineda, Manager – Corporate Responsibility Department.

In 2017, DAC moved to its new 91,000 square feet building, allowing it to more than quadruple its capacity from 54 students to 238.

The new facilities include 34 classrooms, 22 movement therapy rooms, 18 speech therapy rooms, three sensory integration rooms, plus laboratories, facilities and clinics.

DAC was founded in 2001 to support individuals with autism, their families and caregivers. A non-profit organization, its financial sources include subsidies, donations and endowments.

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