Solar-powered mobile clinic caps five decades of family dentistry in UAE

“One of my dad’s friends, who was also in medicine, contacted us and said there’s great need here,” Dr Sama recalled. “It began with a telephone call.” The early clinic was modest: a steriliser, an X-ray machine, and curtains dividing the space. Patients often brought gifts and artefacts, which decorated the room.

Flipping through old photographs, she noted how primitive the setup was. “So you see how primitive everything looks. Like this is just the whole dental practice.”

The family’s ties extended beyond the clinic. On Fridays, they would visit patients at home. The warmth they received helped the UAE feel like home. “The bond of friendship and loyalty and the hospitality was greatly felt, and it really touched our hearts, which is why we are here forever,” she said, adding that they are here to stay.

Among the early figures in her father’s life was Musabeh Obaid Al Dhahiri, one of the first handwritten newspaper publishers in the UAE, who was also the landlord of the clinic. The practice’s official certificate dates back to 1981, and the family says it has maintained an “A” record for five decades.

A Tradition of Giving Back

Dr Sama’s mother volunteered with children with special needs for 25 years, creating works from recycled materials. She received the Abu Dhabi Award in 2009. In 1981, she enrolled in an Arabic school in Al Ain to learn the language, where she undertook projects using upcycling and recycling.

Looking at images of her mother’s work from the 1980s, Dr Sama said, “We always learned not to break an egg, but to just poke a hole. Till today, that’s our practice.” Her mother passed away in 2018, and the news was shared by the country’s leadership, with many prominent figures attending her memorial.

Between 2000 and 2002, three dentists from the family travelled to Bangladesh for two weeks each year. They set up on the banks of a river, working from 8am to 5pm by sunlight alone. Patients sat under a tree or on a chair by the wall; there was no electricity or modern dental chair with a light. They treated roughly 2,500 patients per visit. “That was what happened,” she said with a smirk. She also accompanied her father on school visits to provide oral hygiene instructions, a practice she continues.

In 2013, Behzad Tabrizi suffered a haemorrhagic stroke. “He recovered, and he opened one of the branches, the second branch in Al Muwaiji,” Dr Sama said. The branch is also in Al Ain.

Innovation Born from Need

The Covid-19 pandemic proved to be an unexpected steppingstone, coinciding with the introduction of a mobile dental service — dentistry on wheels. The family developed a solar-powered mobile dental clinic after their experiences in Bangladesh highlighted the need to bring care directly to people. Throughout this journey, Dr Sama’s brother, Dr Anis Tabrizi, was a constant source of support.

The clinic runs entirely on solar power and is equipped with a mobile X-ray unit, allowing the team to diagnose and treat patients on site, including complex surgical cases. It is taken to labour camps, and its ability to reach patients proved especially useful during the pandemic. Dr Sama described it as an innovation that grew out of the family’s grassroots humanitarian work.

“We got the certification from the Authority of Social Contribution, Ma’an, which is an organisation under the Abu Dhabi Emirate,” she said. With their support, they treated 1,000 labourers for free.

Humanitarian practices have been a part of their lifestyle, she said, instilled in them as children. The family has collaborated with the Emirates Red Crescent and signed memorandums of understanding with the Emirates Cancer Society. “We are treating cancer patients for free. Those that do not have insurance, but of course we must select what we can do,” she added.

They are also accredited by the Department of Health to provide clinical medical education training programmes for students. An observation programme allows students to explore dental clinic work and decide whether dentistry is a suitable career path.

Expanding Reach to Africa and India

Dr Sama’s next goal is to reach areas in need. A memorandum of understanding signed with Gulf South Utilities in March 2026 supports the proposed use of a solar-powered mobile dental van in Africa and parts of India. The van is intended to reach remote communities with limited access to dental care.

Fifty years on, the dental chair has become a van, the curtains have given way to solar panels, and the river’s edge has become a road winding towards Africa and India.

Dr Sama Tabrizi arrived in the UAE as an infant, carried in her parents’ arms. She has spent a lifetime carrying it back, one patient at a time.