Emirates presents accessibility concepts in Dubai, highlights travel rehearsals held in Larnaca

Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Emirates presented technologies and services intended to give travellers with disabilities greater independence at AccessAbilities Expo 2026, including a travel rehearsal programme that has also taken place at Larnaca airport.

Accessibility across the journey

The exhibition ran from October 19 to 21 at Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together inclusive innovations and accessibility solutions. Emirates used an interactive stand to demonstrate its latest concepts.

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Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group and patron of AccessAbilities Expo, opened the event.

The airline’s presentations included a cabin familiarisation experience for travellers with impaired vision or complete sight loss, a lounge suite adapted for passengers with reduced mobility, and biometric gates intended to make boarding accessible to passengers requiring assistance.

Cabin experience for visitors with sight loss

An immersive simulation of key elements of cabin travel for people with impaired vision or complete sight loss was among the stand’s main attractions.

The experience used sound, exploration of the seat through touch, and staff guidance to recreate significant onboard moments in a calm, carefully planned setting.

Visitors taking part sat in an authentic Emirates A350 seat equipped with a U-Dream headrest.

Passenger needs guide improvements

Mostafa Karam, divisional senior vice-president for customer affairs and service audit at Emirates, said the airline wanted to help make aviation more inclusive by making accessibility central to passengers’ experiences.

He said Emirates was looking beyond separate services and collaborating with partners to assess accessibility throughout a trip, covering planning, airports, time onboard and destinations.

Karam added that passengers’ requirements and personal experiences were guiding practical changes intended to remove obstacles, expand options and help everyone travel with more clarity, confidence, independence and dignity.