Back in 2002, Nadia Al Sayegh was working at the Ministry of Social Affairs and was responsible to provide assistance and support to the families of children with special needs.

She realized that families could not find a residential care facility dedicated to offering 24/7 nursing care to cater to the needs of individuals with special needs.

With the passion to serve the community, she quit her job and went on a mission to establish a non-profit residential care facility. In 2004, Senses Center was started from a small residential villa in Jumeirah.

As a nonprofit organization, Senses was barely able to cover the expenses to pay the rents and salaries of the staff, hence the landlord asked to vacate the villa. While moving the furniture, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was by chance passing from that street, and as a curiosity, he approached Nadia Al Sayegh to know more about Senses and found out that the center is going through financial challenges.

As a personal contribution from HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice-President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, a purpose-built daycare center and residential care facility was giftedto us after he heard about Nadia Al Sayegh’s efforts to provide specialized programs and 24/7 residential care services to people of determination.

In 2010, Senses moved from the rental villa to its permanent new purpose-built facility located in Umm Suqeim3. The new state-of-the-art facility has 23 classrooms, and 8 therapy labs offering (various therapies and vocational training including daily living skills and prepare children for work-placement opportunities).