Dubai Tourism

Enhancing Accessibility in Dubai: Sensory Access Partners with the Dubai Tourism Board

In an exciting collaboration, Sensory Access, partnered with the Tourism Board of Dubai. This initiative aimed to enhance the accessibility of major tourism destinations across Dubai for neurodivergent individuals, known in Dubai as “People of Determination.” Our mission was to audit these destinations and provide comprehensive sensory information to help visitors prepare for their experiences.

The Museum of the future lit up at night

Project Goals

The main objectives of this partnership were to:

  1. Conduct Sensory Audits: Evaluate the sensory impact of major tourism destinations in Dubai.

  2. Develop Sensory Rating Sheets: Create detailed sensory profiles for each destination to inform visitors about potential sensory impacts.

  3. Increase Accessibility: Recommend improvements to make these destinations more accessible and enjoyable for People of Determination.

Conducting Sensory Audits

Our team of sensory specialists embarked on an extensive audit of Dubai’s top tourist attractions, including landmarks, museums, parks, and entertainment venues. Each destination was assessed for its sensory impact based on the following criteria:

– Visual Stimuli: Bright lights, flashing signs, and complex visual environments.

– Auditory Stimuli: Loud sounds, sudden noises, and ongoing background music, as well as complex noise.

– Tactile Stimuli: Varied textures, temperature fluctuations, and physical interactions.

– Olfactory Stimuli: Strong smells from food, plants, or other sources.

-Proprioception: Uneven ground, moving walkways and other things that impact vestibular and proprioception

– Crowd Density/tactile: Levels of crowding and the spatial layout of the area.

Increasing Accessibility

Based on our audits, we provided the Tourism Board of Dubai with recommendations to enhance accessibility at each destination as well as creating itineraries for neurodivergent travelers.

Dubai desert

The partnership between Sensory Access and the Tourism Board of Dubai marks a significant step towards making Dubai’s world-renowned attractions accessible to all visitors. By conducting sensory audits and developing Sensory Rating Sheets, we have empowered People of Determination to explore and enjoy Dubai with confidence and ease.

 

Our work in Dubai serves as a model for other cities around the world, demonstrating how thoughtful planning and collaboration can create inclusive and welcoming environments for neurodivergent individuals. As we continue our mission, we look forward to helping more destinations embrace accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring that everyone can experience the joy of travel without barriers.

 

Through this partnership, Dubai has set a new standard in accessible tourism, and we are proud to have been a part of this transformative journey. Together, we are making travel more inclusive, one destination at a time.

Want to check out some of the work we’ve done in Dubai? head on over to out Travel site, SensoryAccessTravel.com ! Click below to head straight to Dubai’s attractions.