Dubai Airports has announced a 10-year commitment to transform Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) into the world’s most accessible and inclusive airports by 2035.
The plan focuses on maintaining 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.
Dubai International Airport unveils plan to become world’s most accessible airport by 2035
“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,” Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer at Dubai Airports said in a statement.
The next phase launches alongside a public awareness campaign, co-created with People of Determination and brought to life with the support of oneDXB partners, showcasing their lived experiences at DXB.
Anchored in the pledge “DXB for All”, the campaign brings to life six stories of PoD navigating the world’s busiest airport, from a child’s sensory sensitivities as he journeys through a 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 campaign emphasises that accessibility goes beyond infrastructure to a shift in mindset and culture. It calls for empathy and encourages employees, travellers, and the public to view the world through a different lens.
“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,” Al Joker added.
Advocates featured include Emirati accessibility pioneer Fatma Al Jassim, 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 direction is a collaboration 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 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.
Offerings include complimentary two-hour parking, taxis, wheelchair services, hearing loops installed across more than 520 touchpoints, and the Assisted Travel Lounge in Terminal 2.
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