DXB has confirmed full operational readiness across its three terminals, deploying specialised People of Determination (PoD) teams and aligning efforts across the airport community to ensure a seamless arrival experience for every delegation.

Preparations included pre-event awareness sessions for frontline employees on best-practice PoD interaction, the activation of a joint task force to oversee and manage delegation arrivals, and the installation of welcome points and reception desks for athletes. Logistical support for the official transport has been arranged throughout the arrival period.

Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer at Dubai Airports, said “Accessibility shapes how we design and deliver every part of the airport journey. From trained teams and hearing loops to dedicated assistance counters and quiet spaces, DXB ensures that every guest, regardless of their needs, can move through the airport with comfort and confidence. For these young athletes, their first moments in Dubai begin at DXB, and we want that experience to be seamless, respectful and as stress-free as possible.”

A group of Dubai Airports employees is volunteering to support the athletes at the Games, a reflection of the organisation’s commitment to championing inclusion for People of Determination across the UAE.

This year’s event marks the largest participation in the Games, with the 2025 edition set to host 11 sports across eight world-class venues from 10 – 13 December, further cementing Dubai’s status as a global hub for Para sport excellence. This is the second time Dubai hosts the Games, following the successful 2017 edition.

For more information about Dubai Airports’ accessibility services, visit:
https://dubaiairports.ae/hidden-disabilities

The long-term plan focuses on maintaining strong foundations, enhancing the guest experience across all touchpoints, and positioning DXB and DWC as global leaders in inclusive travel. The strategy aligns with international best practice, the UAE’s commitment to the rights of People of Determination (PoD), and Dubai’s vision to be a disability-friendly city.

Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer at Dubai Airports, said: “Our commitment to accessibility is not just a promise; it is a core pillar of our mission to deliver a world-class travel experience for every single guest. By working closely with our partners and, most importantly and for the first time, with the wider People of Determination community, we are transforming the entire airport journey and setting a new global standard for accessible travel.”

The next phase is launched in tandem with a new public awareness campaign, co-created with People of Determination and brought to life with the support of our oneDXB partners, showcasing their lived experiences at DXB. Anchored in the pledge “DXB for All”, the campaign brings to life six powerful stories of PoD navigating the world’s busiest airport, from a child’s sensory sensitivities as he journeys through a bustling terminal with his mother, to a deaf guest’s reliance on employees' sign language skills, to tactile guidance for a guest with a visual impairment, and interactions between airport employees and guests with mobility challenges.

Building on “We All Meet the World Differently” (WAMTWD), first introduced in 2022, the new campaign emphasises that accessibility goes beyond infrastructure to a fundamental shift in mindset and culture. It calls for empathy and encourages employees, travellers, and the public to view the world through a different lens.

Al Joker added: “By co-creating this campaign with People of Determination, we are ensuring their voices shape how we design, operate and connect as an airport, not only with our guests, but the wider community we serve."

Featured advocates include Emirati accessibility pioneer Fatma Al Jassim, award-winning disability inclusion consultant and former Paralympic swimmer Jessica Smith, and Dubai-based mother Yasmin Carey with her son Ellis, who is on the autism spectrum. The campaign also features Layth Kamal, who lives with autism and ADHD, Mohammed Alghafli, an advocate for the visually impaired, and Ahmed Butti, a representative of the deaf community.

This strategic direction is a collaborative effort with partners across the airport’s oneDXB community, including Emirates, flydubai, and other airlines, Dubai Police, the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDIFA), Dubai Customs, dnata, Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS), Dubai Taxi Company (DTC), Dubai Health, Dubai Duty Free and Serco, ensuring every guest enjoys a seamless and inclusive journey.

Dubai Airports provides a range of services to support guests with both visible and hidden needs.

These include the Travel Planner, an online visual guide to help guests prepare for their journey, and the Sunflower Lanyard, a discreet identifier that provides access to priority lanes and an autism-friendly route through the airport. Additional offerings include complimentary two-hour parking, dedicated taxis, wheelchair services, hearing loops installed across more than 520 touchpoints, and the quiet, sensory-friendly Assisted Travel Lounge in Terminal 2.

For more information, visit dubaiairports.ae/hidden-disabilities

The new advisors will leverage their expertise and advocacy to help Dubai Airports identify gaps, challenge assumptions, and co-create meaningful solutions for accessible travel. This collaboration reflects Dubai Airports’ vision that true accessibility goes beyond infrastructure and is rooted in lived experience and direct community input, ensuring that solutions are shaped by the real experiences of People of Determination.

Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer at Dubai Airports, said: “True inclusion begins with listening. By focusing our work on the lived experiences of our guests, we can challenge our own assumptions and co-create an airport experience that moves us closer to becoming the world’s most inclusive hub.”

Together, these three advisors bring a wealth of lived experience and advocacy to DXB. Smith is an award-winning disability inclusion consultant and former Paralympian who represented Australia at the 2004 Paralympic Games. Al Jassim is an Emirati pioneer in disability inclusion. Team AngelWolf is a Dubai-based family foundation known for achieving multiple Guinness World Records through inclusive teamwork.

The new collaboration marks a new step in Dubai Airports' mission to build a more inclusive future for the aviation industry. As the first international airport globally to be designated a Certified Autism Center™ awarded by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), DXB has already trained more than 53,000 employees in hidden disabilities practices.

The airport is a key partner in Dubai's broader ambition to become a disability-friendly city, a vision that gained momentum when the city was named as the first Certified Autism Destination in the Eastern Hemisphere earlier this year.

For more information about Dubai Airports’ accessibility initiatives, visit:
https://dubaiairports.ae/hidden-disabilities

The loops have been integrated at key locations including check-in counters, immigration desks, boarding gates, and information desks across all three of DXB’s terminals. The system operates by allowing users to connect automatically by activating the ‘T’ (telecoil) setting on their device, with no pairing or additional equipment required.

Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer at Dubai Airports, said: “At Dubai Airports, we are committed to ensuring that every guest, regardless of ability, can navigate our terminals with ease, dignity, and confidence. The successful installation of over 520 Hearing Loops across DXB is a testament to the collaborative spirit of our oneDXB airport community, including all our strategic partners and airlines, whose unified effort is making our shared vision of a more seamless and accessible travel experience a reality for all."

The rollout was delivered in close collaboration with Dubai Airports’ partners from the oneDXB community, including Emirates, flydubai, Dubai Police, the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), Dubai Customs, dnata, Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, Dubai Taxi Company, and Dubai Duty Free.

Aligned with Dubai’s Universal Design Code, which mandates inclusive access to public spaces and transport infrastructure, the installation was completed with minimal disruption to airport operations. To ensure a seamless experience, frontline employees also received dedicated training to support guests of determination.

With more than 1.5 billion people worldwide living with some degree of hearing loss, and that number expected to rise to 2.5 billion by 2050 according to the World Health Organisation, accessible communication systems are becoming essential in global transport hubs.

The Hearing Loops rollout is part of Dubai Airports’ long-term accessibility strategy aimed at improving access across DXB through both infrastructure enhancements and employee training. The strategy focuses on practical, guest-centred solutions that support a wide range of needs, ensuring every guest feels welcome and understood at every stage of their airport journey, from kerb to gate.

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The Ta'alouf Programme, which Al Jalila Foundation launched 13 years ago, serves as a vital pillar in empowering families of people of determination and educators. It equips them with the knowledge and skills needed to understand children's behavioural, psychological and educational needs. The programme supports the integration of people of determination into society, particularly for those facing challenges such as autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, mental delays and others. It focuses on unlocking their potential and turning challenges into opportunities for skill building.

The initiative was carried out in collaboration with teams from the oneDXB community (a network of stakeholders involved in the operations and passenger experience at DXB), caregivers, volunteers and airport front-line staff. It aligns with the goals of the UAE Year of the Community and reflects a shared belief in the importance of collective action to create a more inclusive and supportive travel experience for families of people of determination.

Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Airports, said: "This initiative shows the real impact we can make when we work together. Accessibility is not only about physical infrastructure, but also about how we respond to individual needs with empathy and care. A supportive airport environment can make all the difference for a child of determination and their caregivers."

Dr. Amer Al Zarooni, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, expressed his gratitude to Dubai Airports for partnering on this initiative, which supports people of determination and their families toprepare for airport travel with confidence and ease. He said this step aligns with the UAE's national policy to empower people of determination and integrate them into society and public life, while also reflecting DXB’s efforts to enhance accessibility and ease travel experiences for all.

The travel simulation experience is one of several initiatives implemented by Dubai Airports to enhance the travel journey for people of determination and their caregivers. It is part of the airport's commitment to providing a more inclusive and accessible travel environment.

The experience was conducted with the support of trained Guest Experience Ambassadors in a calm and organised setting. This helped participants from Al Jalila Foundation feel more at ease while navigating the airport and preparing for future travel.

During the simulation, families had the opportunity to explore different areas of the airport and ask questions. This helped them build a sense of familiarity and confidence, making future travel experiences less stressful and more positive.

Many people of determination, especially those with autism spectrum disorder, face unique challenges when travelling through airports. These include unfamiliar procedures, sensory stimuli and crowded environments. The simulation experience helps children, and their families become familiar with each stage of the travel journey, from arriving at the airport and completing check-in, passport control and security screening, to reaching the boarding gates and arrival halls. This step-by-step exposure gives them the time they need to adapt at each phase of the process.

This initiative is part of Dubai Airports' strategy to make travel easier and more inclusive for everyone. Through its We All Meet the World Differently campaign, Dubai Airports adopts inclusive practices and provides continuous training for employees to ensure support for travellers with both visible and invisible challenges at every stage of their journey, from arrival to boarding.

Dubai International Airport is the first international airport in the world to be awarded the Certified Autism Center (CAC) designation by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). These achievements reflect Dubai Airports' commitment to supporting neurodivergent travellers and their families and to reinforcing Dubai's position as one of the most inclusive and accessible cities in the world.

The travel simulation experience is one of several initiatives implemented by Dubai Airports to improve the travel experience for people of determination and their caregivers.