Muscat – In a move that underscores Oman’s commitment to enhancing services for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Ministry of Social Development, represented by National Autism Centre, has officially joined the Qualified Applied Behaviour Analysis (QABA) international board as a full member.

With this, Oman becomes the first country in the Arab world to attain full membership in the global QABA network – a recognition of the advanced professional standards and infrastructure available in the sultanate’s autism services sector.

In a statement issued on its official website, the QABA board welcomed the partnership and highlighted Oman’s regional leadership in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA).

‘We are proud to welcome the Ministry of Social Development in Oman, through the National Autism Centre, as our first full member in the Arab world,’ the statement read. ‘This step represents the beginning of a strategic partnership to enhance international standards in behaviour analysis services in the region.’

The announcement comes as part of the first phase of QABA’s broader strategic expansion into the Arab region, aimed at fostering cooperation with official bodies, academic institutions and specialised centres in ABA and autism care.

Full membership grants institutions a distinguished status, providing access to international partnerships, advanced training programmes, and the opportunity to serve as an accredited centre for supervision and field training of specialists in behavioural services.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nadia al Ajmi, Director of National Autism Centre, expressed pride in the milestone achievement. “The centre’s attainment of full QABA membership is a pivotal step towards developing and improving the quality of rehabilitation services for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder,” Dr Nadia said. “It also contributes to empowering and advancing national competencies in this field. We are proud that the centre is the first entity in the Middle East to receive this membership, which will undoubtedly raise the standard of services provided.”

The membership is expected to further enhance the capabilities of autism professionals in Oman, facilitate the training of local specialists to meet international standards, and attract globally certified professionals to the sultanate. It will also support the establishment of research and development partnerships with renowned international institutions.

Established in 2023 under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Development, the National Autism Centre is considered a pioneering facility in the sultanate. It is dedicated to offering diagnostic and treatment services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, with strong focus on adopting the best international practices in care and intervention.

The ministry’s initiatives reflect Oman’s broader national efforts to promote inclusivity, develop specialised healthcare services, and invest in building local human capital in line with global standards.