At the leading exhibition on accessibility and inclusive innovation, held at the Dubai World Trade Center from October 19 to 21, 2026, Emirates officially unveiled its interactive booth.
The exhibition was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline & Group and patron of the AccessAbilities Expo.
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As part of the expo, the airline showcased a series of innovative ideas currently in development, with a focus on the future. Among these are a cabin familiarization experience for passengers with total or partial vision loss, an accessible lounge suite for passengers with limited mobility, as well as boarding gates equipped with biometric technology for passengers with accessibility needs.
Mostafa Karam, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President of Customer Affairs & Service Audit, stated: “Our ambition is to help shape a more inclusive future in aviation by embedding accessibility at the core of the passenger experience. We don’t limit ourselves to individual services; instead, we collaborate with our partners to address accessibility at every stage of the journey, from planning and the airport environment to the in-flight experience and destinations. Guided by passengers’ needs and their personal experiences, we focus on practical improvements that reduce barriers, expand options, and allow everyone to travel with greater clarity, confidence, independence, and dignity.”
Getting to Know the Emirates Cabin for Passengers with Low Vision
At its booth, Emirates presented an immersive accessibility experience that simulates key aspects of the in-flight journey for passengers with total or partial vision loss. Through a combination of sound, tactile exploration of the seat, and guided interaction with staff, the experience recreates key moments of being in the aircraft cabin, in a calm, high-quality environment.
Visitors had the opportunity to experience this for themselves while seated in an actual Emirates A350 aircraft seat equipped with a U-Dream headrest. The audio narration, a key element of the experience, describes the various features of the cabin surrounding them. Rather than focusing exclusively on technology, the experience highlights how thoughtful design can boost passengers’ confidence, help them better understand the space around them, and travel with greater independence, dignity, and comfort.
Barrier-Free Access and Emirates’ Biometric Technologies in Dubai
At the Emirates booth, visitors had the opportunity to experience the Emirates Biometric Path system firsthand. At the airline’s central hub, Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport (DXB), the accessible boarding gates feature a barrier-free design, incorporating biometric technologies that allow passengers with accessibility needs to move smoothly and independently.
The area now features flexible camera coverage, with cameras that automatically adjust their height and angle, without restricting or dictating the movement of passengers using special-purpose wheelchairs.
At the same time, Emirates’ self-service check-in kiosks have been upgraded and now feature text-to-speech functionality, improved touchscreen usability, Braille text and tactile elements, audio access via headphone connection, and height-adjustable screens to accommodate a wider range of passenger needs.
Emirates’ Accessible Lounge Suite
Emirates also unveiled a new, specially designed lounge suite accessible to wheelchair users, which offers passengers with limited mobility a comfortable and private space to relax before their flight.
Emirates’ lounge suites, which were first introduced in First Class lounges in 2024, combine high-end design with technologies such as wireless charging and entertainment screens, offering a space for relaxation, work, and dining.
The new accessible lounge suite is designed for wheelchair users, people with limited mobility, senior travelers, and those who need extra comfort, space to transfer to and from their seat, or postural support—all while maintaining privacy and high quality.
In keeping with the design identity of Emirates’ lounges, featuring wood, leather, and marble surfaces, it incorporates an electrically adjustable armchair with lift, rotation, and retraction functions, as well as armrests for greater support and independence. It also features a dedicated wheelchair storage compartment and ample space for transferring to and from the seat, allowing passengers to relax independently or with the assistance of a companion.
The prototype is currently under development for First Class, with plans to expand to other seating classes in the future.
The Emirates booth also showcased products and services the airline already offers its passengers, including:
Emirates Travel Rehearsals Program
Emirates Travel Rehearsals are personalized events organized by Emirates in collaboration with airports around the world. They enable children and young adults on the autism spectrum, along with their families and support networks, to familiarize themselves with the airport journey before an actual flight. In this way, they help reduce travel-related anxiety and boost their self-confidence.
More than 35,000 Emirates staff members have been trained to support passengers on the autism spectrum and to facilitate both their travel and their participation in travel simulations. Emirates teams work closely with airport authorities and the airline’s partners to ensure that every event provides families with a supportive and positive environment.
To date, Emirates has completed 80 Travel Rehearsals across six continents, positively impacting the experience of more than 400 families. The events have taken place at the following airports, among others: Accra, Amsterdam, Antananarivo, Athens, Bangkok, Barcelona, Bangalore, Birmingham, Bogotá, Bologna, Brisbane, Brussels, Budapest, Cairo, Cape Town, Cebu, Christchurch, Clark, Colombo, Copenhagen, Da Nang, Dallas–Fort Worth, Dar es Salaam, Delhi, Denpasar (Bali), Dubai, Dublin, Durban, Düsseldorf, Edinburgh, Geneva, Glasgow, Guangzhou, Hamburg, Hanoi, Harare, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Houston, Istanbul, Jeddah, Larnaca, Lisbon, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Stansted, Los Angeles, Luanda, Lusaka, Madrid, Male, Manchester, Melbourne, Miami, Milan, Muscat, Newcastle, Nice, Orlando, Oslo, Paris, Perth, Peshawar, Phuket, Port Louis, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Seattle, Stockholm, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo, Toronto, Tiruvanantapuram, Valletta, Venice, Vienna, Warsaw, and Washington, D.C.
“Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub” on Emirates.com
On the Emirates website, passengers can find the Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub section for more information about accessible and inclusive travel services, plan their trip, and find out what support is available.
Passengers can browse the content according to their needs, choosing from sections on mobility assistance, visual or hearing impairments, and other non-apparent support needs, among others.
Alternatively, they can search for information based on the stage of their trip through the sections “Before the Flight,” “Departure from Dubai,” “Onboard,” “Connecting in Dubai,” and “Arrival in Dubai.”
A third option allows passengers to search for information based on specific needs, such as requesting special assistance, preparing for the trip using the guide for passengers on the autism spectrum, exploring the map and sensory guides for Dubai International Airport (DXB), accessing Emirates support through the Be My Eyes app for people with visual impairments, as well as applying for the Sanad Tourist Card, which provides access to useful services in Dubai.
There are also dedicated sections on traveling with wheelchairs and mobility aids, as well as detailed information on medical travel. These include the Frequent Traveler Medical Card (FREMEC), which is intended for eligible passengers with ongoing medical needs, as well as guidelines for transporting medications and medical devices.
The Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub section also includes a category for family travel, with clear information on traveling with children, traveling while pregnant, and travel for unaccompanied minors.
Emirates’ Sensory Products and Activity Toys
Emirates has designed a range of sensory products and activity toys for passengers of all ages, which are available on board in all seat classes and offer a familiar tactile activity, helping some neurodivergent passengers regulate sensory input, focus, or feel more comfortable during their flight.
To support these passengers, Emirates has designed an aircraft-shaped tactile stress-relief object, two types of fidget cubes, and an aircraft-shaped rubber popper toy. These products are offered to neurodivergent passengers, those who experience difficulties during the flight, and passengers who feel anxious when flying, where appropriate.
Accessibility features in the “ICE” in-flight entertainment system
Emirates strives to set high standards in the aviation industry regarding accessibility for people with disabilities. Currently, it offers more than 850 movies with closed captions for the deaf and hard of hearing, and 200 movies with audio description for passengers with visual impairments.
Emirates’ headphones are also compatible with hearing aids when set to the “T” position. To relieve stress and promote relaxation, the in-flight entertainment system includes 12 Wellbeing TV channels and 31 channels featuring podcasts and playlists with meditations and soothing sounds.
On Emirates’ Airbus A350-900 aircraft, a new user experience has been designed, in collaboration with Thales and organizations that support people with visual impairments, with the goal of providing a user-friendly, high-quality in-flight entertainment experience for all passengers.
The new “Ice” in-flight entertainment system interface includes audio cues for navigation, voice prompts, and support for touch and swipe gestures. This allows passengers with total or partial vision loss to navigate and select content with greater independence.
Emirates Chauffeur Drive Service with Accessible Vehicles
Ten Emirates-branded vehicles, accessible to wheelchair users, are now available to passengers in Dubai. The vehicles in the Emirates Chauffeur Drive service are Mercedes V-Class models, featuring a low-floor conversion for easy and safe access, increased interior headroom, an electrically adjustable mechanism for passenger boarding and alighting, and the ability to adjust the seating configuration.
Inside the vehicle, additional restraint systems enhance the safety of passengers with severe mobility limitations. Chauffeur Drive drivers are trained to provide mobility assistance and serve passengers with special needs.
Currently, accessible vehicles serve First and Business Class (First and Business Class) who are eligible for the Chauffeur Drive service and are based in Dubai, with plans to expand availability in the future.
Emirates’ Commitment to Accessible Travel
Emirates continues to promote accessible travel in an ever-evolving environment, moving forward step by step, prioritizing innovation, and focusing on solutions that are appropriate and responsible.
At the same time, it collaborates with a broad network of international partners to further enhance travel accessibility—from regulatory bodies and operating agencies to specialized groups, communities, and passengers around the world.
Finally, it seeks to enhance accessibility by standardizing procedures at the international level and ensuring a consistent experience for passengers, whether they are served online, through call centers, at airports, or on board the aircraft.
