By the time most families recognize addiction, it’s already taken hold. A promising career derailed. A marriage strained to breaking. A person they love becomes someone they barely recognize.
The problem is accelerating. In 2025, communities face an unprecedented mix of challenges: potent opioids, constantly evolving synthetic drugs, and untreated mental health conditions. Meanwhile, traditional treatment systems struggle to keep pace, leaving a widening gap between need and access.
The need of the hour is something that is beyond just treatment. It’s better treatment. Places that understand addiction require medical intervention, psychological care, and genuine human connection working together.
Erada Center represents this new approach. What began as a Government of Dubai initiative under CEO Abdulrazaq Ameri has evolved into a regional benchmark for integrated care. Erada Center doesn’t just treat addiction as a problem to solve. It treats people as lives worth rebuilding, families worth restoring, and futures worth fighting for.
Let’s explore how Erada Center restores hope, rebuilds lives, and transforms addiction treatment!
A Life-Changing Beginning
Nearly four decades ago, a personal moment altered the path of Ameri. Two of his young nieces nearly lost their lives due to medical negligence. The severity of that experience stayed with him and became a turning point that shaped his purpose. Instead of allowing the trauma to fade into memory, he carried it as a driving force that inspired him to dedicate his career to improving healthcare quality.
Over the next 35 years, his work spanned various healthcare institutions, both within the country and abroad. Each experience deepened his understanding of leadership, operational integrity, and the human impact of every decision made within a healthcare system. In 2021, the Government of Dubai presented him with a new challenge and appointed him to lead Erada Center. He entered the field of substance use disorders with humility, curiosity, and a commitment to learning everything he could.
Ameri devoted himself to understanding the complexities of addiction, a field known for its emotional demands and clinical challenges. What began as an unfamiliar area evolved into a personal mission that shaped the direction of Erada Center and strengthened his commitment to every patient who walked through its doors.
Understanding the Real Nature of Addiction
Through this journey, Ameri developed a deep appreciation for the complexity of addiction. He describes it accurately as a biopsychosocial disorder characterized by compulsive use despite serious consequences. He believes it is shaped by biology, environment, psychology, trauma, and social context. For him, simplistic interpretations cause more harm than good, and moral judgments only create barriers that prevent people from coming forward.
At Erada Center, he emphasizes: “At Erada, we develop personalized care plans based on rigorous psychiatric assessment, medicated interventions, psychotherapy, group and family therapy, spiritual counselling, and innovative neuromodulation techniques like TMS.”
The Center approaches treatment through personalization rather than generalization. Every patient begins with a detailed psychiatric assessment that guides a multi-layered plan. This plan combines medicated interventions, individual psychotherapy, family therapy, group therapy, spiritual counseling, and neuromodulation techniques such as TMS. The philosophy behind these methods is simple: no single treatment can address a condition that affects the mind, body, and environment.
One of Ameri’s strongest beliefs is the importance of caring for staff. He views internal support as a core part of patient care. Professional development, wellbeing programs, and a healthy work environment are essential to maintaining high clinical standards. Many patients describe the atmosphere at Center as welcoming and supportive, a result of the organization’s attention to staff morale.
He maintains a leadership style rooted in presence and connection. He conducts regular walk rounds to speak directly with staff and patients. He listens, encourages open communication, and uses feedback to make practical improvements. These interactions have shaped many operational decisions and strengthened the relationship between administration and frontline teams.
Moving Toward Regional Leadership
Since 2021, Erada Center has advanced rapidly. Ameri describes this progress clearly: “Since 2021, we have swiftly positioned Erada as a regional leader: In 2023, we became the UAE’s first substance rehabilitation Center to earn CARF and CAP accreditation—validating our excellence in clinical care and laboratory services.”
Another significant achievement is the introduction of the Arab World’s first Addiction Medicine Fellowship. This program fills a crucial gap in regional talent development by preparing new physicians with specialized training in addiction medicine. “Since 2021, we have designed a sponsorship program to attract individuals to specialize in the addiction field and so far, we have 3 students who will be graduating next year.”
Beyond its direct services, Center has also played an important role in developing the Dubai Comprehensive and Integrated Addiction Treatment System Initiative. The purpose of this system is to integrate addiction medicine into mainstream healthcare. Through stronger data systems, unified treatment pathways, and collaboration across prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, the initiative aims to reshape how the region responds to addiction.
Addressing Systemic Barriers
Although progress has been significant, several obstacles remain. Stigma continues to discourage people from seeking treatment. Many individuals still view addiction as a personal weakness instead of a medical condition, leading to shame and secrecy. This perception limits the ability of professionals to reach those who need care most.
Workforce shortages also present challenges. Addiction medicine is a specialty with limited trained professionals worldwide. To help address this, Erada Center created a sponsorship program to encourage more individuals to enter the field.
Another barrier involves access. Many insurance providers do not cover addiction treatment, leaving patients and families with significant financial pressure. The Government of Dubai is working to change this by moving toward mandatory insurance coverage for addiction treatment programs.
Building Global Partnerships
A key factor in Erada Center’s advancement is its partnership with the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado. Ameri emphasizes: “Our collaboration with the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado has significantly enhanced our treatment and rehabilitation programs.”
One of the most notable results of this partnership is the Encompass Treatment Program, designed specifically for adolescents and youth. The program was developed by Professor Paula Riggs, who has been training therapists at Center since March 2023. Certification to offer the program is expected in September 2025, which will make Erada Center the first outside the United States to implement this model.
A key feature of the Erada Outreach Program is its telephone-based intervention. “Rather than referring patients directly to addiction treatment centers—which, according to numerous studies, results in refusal by nearly 90% of patients—the program introduces a more approachable step: a telephone-based intervention conducted by a specialist.”
Creating a Healing Environment
Recognizing the importance of the healing environment, Erada Center invested in a new 210-bed facility. The design includes specialized wings for executives and business professionals, long-term substance users, and individuals with alcohol use disorders. These dedicated areas provide privacy, comfort, and tailored support.
In addition to clinical treatment, Erada Center offers extensive social support services. These include transportation, food assistance, accommodation, document renewal services, legal support, and training programs. By addressing these external challenges, Erada Center helps patients maintain their recovery plans and transition smoothly back into their communities.
Leadership Guided by Purpose
Dr. Amany Elmougy, Director of Medical Affairs, brings more than three decades of dedication to addiction psychiatry. Her journey began at a time when universities in the region offered no evidence-based programs in addiction. She recalls: “I see success as a balance between strategy and people. A culture rooted in communication, accountability, and continuous learning is, to me, the foundation of lasting progress.”
Her selection as a Hubert Humphrey NIDA-sponsored Fellow at Johns Hopkins University in 1998–1999 was a defining moment. It strengthened her resolve to improve treatment services, educate multidisciplinary teams, and advocate for addiction as a chronic and relapsing disease. “Our work at Erada Center is not simply a job; it is a mission.”
Nursing Leadership Rooted in Compassion
Another leader shaping Erada Center’s success is Alia Almemari, Director of Nursing and Acting Director of the Rehabilitation Department. Nursing was not her original plan, yet it became a calling rooted in empathy and a desire to support people during vulnerable moments. Her exposure to addiction taught her that addiction is not a moral failing but a life-altering disease that affects families as deeply as it affects individuals.
Strengthening Systems and Operations
In the operational sphere, Director of Corporate Support Services Faisal AlHadi plays a key role in maintaining efficiency and organizational clarity. He reflects: “I see success as a balance between strategy and people. A culture rooted in communication, accountability, and continuous learning is, to me, the foundation of lasting progress.”
A Voice for Community and Transformation
As one of the first women to join Erada Center, Ameena Ajlan has seen the organization evolve from its early stages. Working across different departments helped her understand not only the operational aspects of the Center but also the human stories that define its mission. Her exposure to patients changed her perception of addiction and strengthened her commitment to fighting stigma. She led the development of Center’s new corporate identity, a project she views as symbolic of innovation, renewal, and resilience. This transformation strengthened trust among patients and pride among staff.
The Road Ahead
As addiction continues to affect millions around the world, Erada Center stands prepared with a complete treatment model and a dedicated team. Its combination of medical, psychological, and social support creates a foundation for long-term recovery. Its partnerships elevate the quality of care. Its outreach programs help providers identify and support individuals early. Its infrastructure reflects dignity and respect for every patient.
The vision set in motion by Ameri continues to guide the organization. The moment that shaped his life decades ago still influences every decision. Each staff member, patient, and family that enters Erada Center becomes part of a shared mission to restore hope.
Addiction is often met with misunderstanding, yet Erada Center shows what can be achieved when care and expertise work hand in hand. More than a treatment facility, it is a place of hope, support, and transformation, proving that recovery is always possible.
