UAE Praised for Inclusive Assistive Technology Agenda
Author: Nadd AlShiba
Published: 29 May 2023 - Updated: 4 Sep 2026
Publication Type: Informative
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content
Synopsis
This report announces the fifth AccessAbilities Expo, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 9 to 11 October, and gathers strong praise from international companies for the United Arab Emirates and its record of support for people with disabilities. It matters to the wider disability community across the Middle East, which is home to more than 50 million people with special needs, as well as to seniors, caregivers, and manufacturers of assistive and rehabilitative products, because the event brings together 300 exhibitors from 50 countries and more than 4,500 assistive technologies under one roof, with roughly 12,000 visitors expected from all 22 countries of the region. Among the main points, industry leaders describe products ranging from smart canes and floating beach wheelchairs to AI-driven hearing aids and wheelchair conversions, while global data cited in the piece notes that around 16 percent of people live with a disability and that the World Health Organization projects more than two billion people will need at least one assistive device by 2030. The account is useful because it pairs named executives and their specific product plans with market and demographic figures, giving readers a grounded sense of both the technology available and the scale of unmet need, since a WHO study referenced here indicates that only five to 15 percent of people who need assistive devices in some countries can actually obtain them.*
At a Glance
- 1 - The event runs across three halls of the Dubai World Trade Centre. It is billed as the largest accessible technology platform in the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian Subcontinent.
- 2 - The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower tool, launched at the 2022 edition by Dubai Airports and Emirates Airlines, remains in sharp focus. It quietly signals conditions such as autism, dyslexia, and hearing or visual impairment so staff can offer discreet help.
- 3 - Starkey's Evolv AI hearing aids can make up to 55 million personalized adjustments every hour to handle noisy settings. An Edge Mode feature lets wearers switch to alternative settings for difficult listening environments on demand.
- 4 - The expo takes place under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group. Featured launches include the WeWALK smart cane, visual doorbells, vibrating fire alarm monitors, and a Hand Bike and Power Wheelchair from Life World Medical Supplies.
Topic Definition
- AccessAbilities Expo
AccessAbilities Expo is a regional trade exhibition staged in Dubai that brings together manufacturers, suppliers, and users of assistive and rehabilitative technology from across the Middle East and beyond. Held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, it functions as a marketplace and showcase where companies present mobility aids, hearing devices, accessibility solutions, and emerging tools built around artificial intelligence, while visitors from the disability community, health sector, and government test products and compare options in one place. Positioned as the largest accessible technology event in the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian Subcontinent, the expo reflects the UAE's broader inclusion agenda and its stated aim of helping people with disabilities and older adults live more independently.
Overview
UAE Gets Strong Praise From Global Companies for Its Inclusive Agenda
Bringing the widest and newest range of Assistive Technology products to the Middle East region that is home to over 50 million people with Special Needs, the 5th AccessAbilities Expo in Dubai from 9-11 October will take the social inclusion agenda to newer heights by introducing a bouquet of newest technologies and latest innovations to visitors from the UAE and the wider Middle East region.
At the three halls of the Dubai World Trade Centre, the pulsating international exhibition for People with Disabilities will become a playground for the global and regional manufacturers of assistive and rehabilitative products to catch their eyeballs and win the hearts of the disabled community. This year's edition, bigger in space and products display than the previous editions, will see the participation of 300 exhibitors from 50 countries.
The largest accessible technology-focused platform in the Middle East, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent, is expected to attract about 12,000 disabled community visitors from all the 22 countries of the Middle East region. A large chunk of over 4,500 existing assistive technologies for varied disabilities will be under the umbrella during the show.
All the experts said in unison that the UAE has been one of the best countries in the world for showing its unfaltering support to People with Disabilities and in providing them the best technology to live independently. They also expressed happiness at participating the AccessAbilities Expo in reaching out to the 50 million-strong disabled community in the Middle East and supporting them by bringing to them technology and innovative products.
Andy Faulkner, CEO of Topland, a leading supplier in the MENA of products and services to improve the accessibility of venues, places and businesses, says the company will demonstrate its latest assistive products and conduct live demonstrations of the visual doorbell, phone alerting systems and vibrating fire alarm monitors to assist deaf or hard of hearing. The world's first smart cane, WeWALK, will be presented by the brand ambassador. On display will be floating beach wheelchairs and accessible beach matting for access to seaside facilities for people with restricted mobility.
Also in sharp focus will be Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, a simple volunteering tool for people with disabilities like autism, dyslexia and hearing and visual impairment that Dubai Airports and Emirates Airlines launched at AAE-2022. He says over the past 18 months, there has been an increase in enquiries from the public and private sectors looking for accessibility assistance and advice due to the accessible tourism sector growth.
Ray Gilani, Managing Director of Gilani Mobility, said the disabled community in the GCC region can soon expect an innovative wheelchair conversion designed by it specifically for them. This gives them more independence, freedom and comfort in their personal space.
Robin Lin, Manager of BIOBASE, said his company will showcase its wheelchairs and hospital beds that help People with Disabilities move and sleep properly. He said the UAE has been very well supporting People with Disabilities everywhere much to the public admiration.
Eng. Ahmed A. Saleh, Manager at Life World Medical Supplies, said the new technologies that People with Disabilities can expect soon include enhanced imaging systems, smart robots and wearable technology and simulation platforms. AI will become part of everything shortly, he added. His mobility company is preparing to launch Hand Bike and Power Wheelchair with encasement.
The much-anticipated exhibition is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group.
Giscard Bechara Managing Director of Starkey Middle East and Africa, said Starkey has continued to focus on improving the hearing aid performance in noisy environs by using even more sophisticated Machine Learning and AI strategies to mimic human performance. The opportunity for processing that goes on in a hearing aid now is not just to amplify sound in a way to mimic the sensors, sensor cells in your ear, but also, pre-process that signal in a way to help your brain understand those sounds that matter.
The magic happens in the brain, understanding conversations, reducing of noise and helping us pay attention to what we care about or should care about. It becomes easier for people of determination to understand speech, to reduce noise and just go about their day-to-day life. Evolv AI hearing aids can execute up to 55 million personalized adjustments every hour. Edge Mode puts the power of AI at fingertips, allowing patients to access alternative settings for challenging listening environments.
Globally, 16 per cent of the population is living with various forms of mental and physical disabilities (disabled-world.com). By 2050, one in six people worldwide will be over the age of 65, rising to one in four in Europe and North America. People with impairments are increasingly utilizing assistive devices to gain functional abilities that would otherwise be difficult to accomplish. According to WHO, more than two billion individuals will require at least one assistive device such as hearing aids, wheelchairs, or memory aids by 2030. Together with friends and family, the Disability Market has a spending power of over US$13 trillion in annual disposable income globally. However, a WHO study says a mere five to 15 per cent of people requiring disability devices have access to them in several countries. The value of the global market for disabled and elderly assistive technologies is forecast to increase to nearly US$50 billion by 2030.
Frequently Asked Questions
NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)
When and where is the 5th AccessAbilities Expo held
The fifth edition runs from 9 to 11 October across three halls of the Dubai World Trade Centre in the United Arab Emirates
Is the AccessAbilities Expo open to the general public
The event draws disability community members, caregivers, health professionals, and industry buyers, and visitors typically register through the official expo channels before attending
What is the WeWALK smart cane shown at the expo
WeWALK is a smart mobility cane for blind and low vision users that adds ultrasonic obstacle detection above ground level and pairs with a smartphone app for navigation
What does the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower symbol represent
It is a green lanyard or badge featuring sunflowers that discreetly signals a person has a non visible disability and may need extra time, patience, or assistance
How many people in the Middle East live with a disability
Organizers state the Middle East region is home to more than 50 million people with special needs spread across its 22 countries
Why is assistive technology access described as limited worldwide
A World Health Organization study cited at the event notes that only five to 15 percent of people who need assistive devices in some countries can actually obtain them
What types of products are exhibited at the event
Displays include mobility aids, floating beach wheelchairs, hearing aids, visual doorbells, vibrating fire alarms, wheelchair conversions, hospital beds, and AI driven devices
How large is the global assistive technology market expected to become
The value of the global market for disabled and elderly assistive technologies is forecast to rise to nearly 50 billion US dollars by 2030
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The financial backdrop is what gives this gathering its weight, since the disability market and the households connected to it command more than 13 trillion US dollars in annual disposable income worldwide, and the global market for assistive technology serving disabled and elderly users is forecast to approach 50 billion US dollars by 2030. That commercial reality sits alongside a sharp demographic shift, with one in six people expected to be over 65 by 2050 and the ratio climbing to one in four across Europe and North America, meaning the visitors, caregivers, and buyers walking the halls in Dubai represent a rapidly expanding audience rather than a niche one. For clinicians, procurement teams, and families weighing options, an event that lines up 4,500 devices and the executives behind them offers a rare chance to compare what is coming next in mobility, hearing, and AI-assisted living against what people can realistically access today.*
Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Nadd AlShiba and published on 29 May 2023, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.
* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.