His Excellency Jamal Al Hai opens AccessAbilities Expo 2016

• Jamal Al Hai: AccessAbilities Expo a milestone in UAE’s journey to becoming disabled friendly by 2020
• ‘UAE moving fast to becoming world’s friendliest destination for the disabled’
• More than 150 exhibitors from over 30 countries showcase world’s latest smart assistive technology
• UAE government bodies display special services, new initiatives for the disabled at AccessAbilities Expo
• 3-day Expo features dedicated ‘Activity Area’ and Knowledge Centre

DUBAI, February 9, 2016:  His Excellency Jamal Al Hai, Member Federal National Council (FNC) and Deputy CEO Dubai Airports, today opened the Middle East’s largest Expo for the disabled, with more than 150 exhibitors from over 30 countries, government bodies, special education centres and associations showcasing the latest smart assistive technology, initiatives and facilities aimed at enhancing the lives of the disabled.

 “AccessAbilities Expo is a major milestone in the UAE’s journey to becoming fully disabled-friendly by 2020. The UAE is strongly committed to empowering and including the disabled in the society and the impact of the government’s focus toward inclusion is clearly visible at this Expo as most of the exhibitors from government bodies and private organisations have employees with disabilities on their stands,” he said at the end of his tour of the Expo, spread over 8,000 sqm in Halls 7 and 8 of Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC).

After cutting the ceremonial ribbon to declare the official opening of the Expo, Jamal Al Hai, accompanied by His Excellency Helal Al Marri, Director General of Dubai Tourism and CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre and top-tier government officials, diplomats, businessmen and other dignitaries, started the tour by visiting the stand Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), which showcased its recently launched ‘Ashir' service, a live video chat service using sign language that enables people with disabilities to communicate directly with DEWA’s call centre staff.

Jamal Al Hai also visited the stalls of Dubai Municipality, Department of Economic Development, Roads and Transport Authority, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, Community Development Authority and Dubai

Customs. His Excellency also visited stalls of private exhibitors and saw the latest assistive technology products on display, met with representatives of associations for the disabled.

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, AccessAbilities Expo involves participation from over 30 countries including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, India, China, Italy, Taiwan, Spain, Czech Republic, Jordan, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Oman, the Netherlands, Singapore, Pakistan and the UAE.

The 3-day  Expo is being organised by Reed Exhibitions Middle East and Nadd AlShiba PR and Event Management.

Daniyal Qureshi, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Exhibitions Middle East, said: “AccessAbilities Expo has brought the world’s best assistive technology products and innovations to the region, which provide tremendous opportunities not only for people with disabilities to benefit from the use, but also for government bodies, schools, family members, support groups and associations, product and service providers to explore the application of these technologies, utilize them to enhance the lives of people with disabilities and facilitate integration and inclusion. The Expo is a platform where we expect to see many business collaborations, partnerships and knowledge-sharing to take place, all of which will have long-term positive impact on attaining the UAE’s vision to become world’s friendliest place for the disabled.”

The Expo features never-seen-before innovations including a Robotic Coffee Shop, driverless car for the disabled, a device to control stuttering in about three hours, sign language to text converter, in addition to aids for leisure and sports for the disabled such as running prostheses for recreational athletes, leg prosthesis systems that virtually make replication of physiological human gait possible to pre-hospital medical equipment, folding electric mobility scooters, specially designed cars allowing driving directly from the wheelchair,  high-definition silicone, orthotic, mobility devices, power wheelchairs, innovative solutions for sound sensory stimulation, voice synthesizers, Braille readers, and wireless monitoring devices and special tools and software that enhances language and learning through a simple reading protocol.

Muwafaq Matari, Managing Partner, AMMT, which is exhibiting sensory products to develop motor skills for people with different types of disabilities and SpeechEasy device to control stuttering, said: “AccessAbilities Expo has brought all segments that  can contribute to enhancing the lives of the disabled together on a common platform, which we see is very beneficial for us. We  not only look forward to potential business opportunities, but  also feel that we will be able to better contribute to the community as out here we get to see the requirements of schools, individuals, associations, government bodies, service providers and others, all on a single platform.”

Wendelin Lauxen, Managing Director, German LimbTech, which is displaying a range of its orthotic and prosthetic devices, said: “We see AccessAbilities as a strong platform where we can meet our target clients.”

The expo features a ‘Knowledge Centre’, which has a stellar lineup of speakers including special educators, decision-makers from government bodies, senior representatives from international associations for the disabled from UK, Switzerland, Germany, India, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE. Successful individuals with disabilities will also give motivational talks sharing their experiences during the Knowledge Centre.

An exclusive ‘Activity Area’ in the Expo offers an array of sport and recreational programmes including table tennis, archery, basketball, boccia, yoga, dance, martial arts, art, and easy cooking, with a view to providing a wide range of options and educate parents and families on engaging their family member having disability in physical activities for optimal physical functioning and overall well-being.

Leading centres for individuals with disabilities including Rashid Pediatric Therapy Centre, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, Al Noor Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities, Dubai Autism Centre and Mawaheb from Beautiful People are among over 40 Event Partners in addition to local and international companies in technology, telecommunication, healthcare, aviation, hospitality, tourism, education, infrastructure and facilities management sectors who are exhibiting their products and services at the Expo.

AccessAbilities has a strong support from Dubai Government departments, including Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Dubai Municipality, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Department of Economic Development (DED), Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai, Community Development Authority (CDA) and Dubai Customs.