Speakers

Dr. Sharifa Naser Yateem, PhD, MSc, BCBA is the first Emirati licensed psychologist by the Department of Health (DOH) who is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and an autism specialist. She holds a Master’s degree in Psychology with a focus on Applied Behavior Analysis from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and a PhD in Special Needs Inclusion from the British University in Dubai.

She is the Founder of Sharifa Yateem Center for Rehabilitation, which offers individualized programs rooted in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, aged 1 to 21. She also established Sharifa Yateem Consulting, a QABA, BACB, and IBAO-certified provider offering consultation, supervision, and training on autism and developmental disorders.

Dr. Yateem is an influential social advocate, raising awareness on autism and inclusion across the UAE, GCC, and internationally. She has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Abu Dhabi TV, CNBC Al Arabiya, and Rotana, and has contributed articles to Al Ittihad newspaper. In 2025, she was appointed by Her Highness Sheikha Mariam Bint Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan as a Board of Trustees Member for Special Olympics UAE.

Her clinical work includes extensive experience in assessment, intervention, and caregiver training across educational and therapeutic settings. She specializes in skill-building in communication, social skills, life skills, and behavior management.

Internationally, she has represented the UAE in conferences and events in France, Germany, the USA, Morocco, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, and was a speaker at TEDx in collaboration with Zayed University. She has consulted on media projects such as the autism cartoon “Pablo” and created her own Arabic-language show, “Blue Spectrum,” to combat autism stigma.

Dr. Yateem is also the creator of “Tokenat,” a motivational app for individuals with autism and developmental disorders.