Manal Ataya is an adviser to the Sharjah Museums Authority
December 25, 2023
It is a fundamental principle in the UAE to ensure that every person in this rapidly growing country should be able to fully engage in society. At the heart of this principle lies accessibility. Public spaces should be designed to be open, inclusive and inviting to everyone, whether those are outdoor gardens, indoor shopping malls or cultural institutions.
Universal design, according to the late product designer Ronald Mace, emphasises the creation of products, processes and complete environmental interventions that can be used by all. This approach is especially crucial for the full inclusion of persons with disabilities, who make up roughly 15 per cent of the world's population.
The term “accessibility” should not be limited to physical access to buildings but should encompass broader accommodations that allow for the inclusion of persons with sensory disabilities (vision and hearing) as well as persons with intellectual disability.
A wheelchair accessible path at Kite beach, Dubai. The National
Examples of such accommodations include access to a diversity of formats when offering information (such as Braille, audio options, or large text print), digital inclusion by implementing digital accessibility standards and features in all platforms, and an all-encompassing approach to how we communicate and interact with persons with disabilities.
During my tenure leading the museums authority in Sharjah, I made it a fundamental pillar of work to ensure that people with disabilities or “persons of determination”, as adopted by the UAE, felt included in spaces and were able to engage with our collections and in our cultural activities and events.
This particular outlook was imprinted on me when I wrote an essay about the topic for my museum design course in graduate school in 2002. At the time the concept was new, with its principles having been developed only a few years prior, in 1997.
The concept of inclusive spaces that dismantle literal and symbolic barriers was revolutionary for its de-stigmatising of differences in ability. It utilised a set of principles that championed the promotion of diversity, understanding and social cohesion.
This notion continued to resonate with me when a debilitating lower back injury over a decade ago temporarily “disabled” me physically for over a year. It is a concept that I ensured my team kept in mind when working with the community of persons with disabilities.
Our abilities, whether physical, sensory, behavioural, or otherwise, are unique. They are not fixed and can change temporarily or permanently throughout our life times.
In the UAE cultural institutions, such as Sharjah museums, are leading the way in inclusive practices. They have trained staff that can offer tours in Arabic sign language, tactile exhibits, larger text material and Braille offerings in both English and Arabic, audio guides and accessible space considerations for wheelchairs, among other features. But to truly embody a commitment to enhancing accessibility, Sharjah museums designed a comprehensive free annual programme for people with disabilities, offered weekly in both Arabic and English.
Target groups include persons with behavioural and cognitive disabilities. We strengthened this investment in online platforms and digital content to reach broader audiences. I remember instituting our long term “Autism Friendly Museums” initiative in 2018 across Sharjah museums when a conversation with an old friend revealed the extent of her struggles with her two young children who were diagnosed with autism.
As successful as the initiative was, we were the first-of-its-kind, dedicated scheme in a public space, in the GCC with specifically designed activities to create learning experiences that met the needs of children with autism. This indicated that there was still more we needed to do to meet the needs of people with different disabilities and embed it in our everyday lives and mindset as a society.
In the Middle East, particularly the UAE, significant strides have been made in recognising the rights of individuals with disabilities and promoting universal accessibility. Sharjah paved the way with the establishment of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) in 1979, later decreed in 1995 as an independent organisation in the Emirate of Sharjah aiming to serve people with disabilities in the UAE.
Years later, legal frameworks, including Federal Law No 29 of 2006, which opposes disability-based discrimination and advocates for equal opportunities and accessibility, came into effect. Moreover, initiatives such as the UAE Vision 2021 and the Abu Dhabi Plan for People of Determination 2020-2024, focus on inclusive societies, providing equal opportunities and accessibility, aligning with global sustainable development principles including education, employment and accessibility to public spaces.
I believe we can all improve the environment we live in. This begins with raising awareness and building empathy and understanding towards persons with disabilities, their families, and their communities to promote an inclusive mindset. It is a crucial aspect to providing equal opportunities and enhancing overall well-being in the community.
Such an approach must be underpinned by government bodies, educational institutions, disability organisations and advocacy groups. Furthermore, with the UAE as a forerunner in the field of technology and smart services, reviewing current infrastructure and embracing universally designed and inclusive technological advancements can significantly enhance accessibility, making all spaces user friendly.
Even as the country has already taken substantial steps towards promoting accessibility and inclusion, there is room for growth. And my hope is that all of us, with our own areas of agency, can commit to ensuring that people with disabilities have access to a more inclusive and equitable world.
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s) Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s) Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year Sarina Wiegman (England)
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2012 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2011 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2010 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
There are different types of travel available for pets:
Manifest cargo
Excess luggage in the hold
Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
