DUBAI ACCESSABILITY GUIDE and UAE have high ambitions when it comes to inclusion. The ambition is to be one of ’s most disability friendly cities. Most major attractions in Dubai are easily accessible for people of determination (the official term for people with special needs). Please note however, that moving around in the streets is a bit tricky even without a wheelchair, so feel free to book our world class inclusive transport vehicles between the attrac- tions, airport and hotel!

This is the first edition of ’Dubai Accessibility Guide’ and we appreciate any comments and suggestions to make it better. Please send email to [email protected] with any suggestions.

2 AROUND ONE OF THE TALLEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD , 124 floor view...... 4 Dubai Aquarium ...... 4 Dubai Mall ...... 4 ...... 4 ...... 5 FOR THE HISTORY INTERESTED Old Dubai...... 6 Deira ...... 6 AROUND THE PALACE Zabeel Palace ...... 8 Zabeel Park (South) – Dubai Garden Glow ...... 8 Zabeel Park (North) ...... 8 ...... 9 SEASIDE ATTRACTIONS Burj al-Arab and Wild Wadi ...... 10 Wild Wadi ...... 10 Atlantis the Palm ...... 10 Aquaventure Waterpark ...... 10 Accessible beaches ...... 12 Scenic Waterways ...... 12 Queen Elisabeth 2 ...... 13 FOR HARMONIOUS MOMENTS ...... 14 Dubai Butterfly Garden ...... 15 Quranic Park ...... 15 Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary ...... 16 Jumeirah Mosque ...... 16 OTHER ATTRACTIONS Mall of the Emirates ...... 17 IMG Worlds of Adventure ...... 17 ...... 18 ...... 18 INCLUSIVE TOURISM...... 19

3 AROUND ONE OF THE TALLEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD BURJ KHALIFA, 124 FLOOR VIEW At 828 meters with its base design inspired by the shape of a dessert flower named Hymenocallis, this is one of the world’s tallest buildings. It took 12,000 workers 22 million manhours to construct and cost USD 4.1 billion. Entrance, and ticket sales, is in ground floor of Dubai Mall where you take the elevator to the 124th floor for a great view of Dubai. You can also buy tickets for the world’s highest lounge on floors 152, 153 and 154 with an outdoor terrace. The entire ’At the Top’ experience is wheelchair accessible. Service animals for the disabled are not allowed on the tour. Phone: 800 BURJ (800 2875) [email protected] www.burjkhalifa.ae DUBAI AQUARIUM Located in Dubai Mall next to Burj Khalifa and Dubai fountain, you can find one of the largest aquariums in the world. You can see parts of it from the mall, but for a more exciting experience, several types of tickets are available. No discount for special needs. Toll Free Number – 800 Dubai Mall (800-38224 6255)) www.thedubaiaquarium.com DUBAI MALL Each information counter has two wheelchairs that are free to borrow against showing a valid ID or leaving a deposit. The mall also offers complimentary delivery service to anyone staying in a hotel in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman or Ras Al Khaimah. If you’re not staying in a hotel, you can get free delivery of your purchases against a minimum spend of AED 500. A folder with all terms for this offer is available at information counters in the mall. Toll Free Number – 800 Dubai Mall (800-38224 6255)) THE DUBAI FOUNTAIN To watch a mesmerizing coordinated water, light and music show, this is the place to be, and it’s especially beautiful after dark. The Dubai Fountain covers an area equivalent of two football pitches and hails as the world’s tallest per- forming fountain. Comprising five circles of varying sizes and two arcs, its powerful water nozzles shoot over 83,000 liters of water to impressive heights equivalent 50-storeys building. In addition it has more than 6,600 lights and 25 color projectors. Performances are at 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm, as well as every 30 minutes from 6 pm to 10 pm on weekdays, and from 6 pm to 11 pm on weekends (weekends being Thursday, Friday, and Saturday). Accessible from Dubai Mall and free of charge.

4 DUBAI OPERA Dubai Opera accommodate wheelchair guest with a regular ticket price for any event. Also, you need to fill in a Wheelchair Booking Form in advance as there will be designated seats for wheelchair-bound patrons and their companions. Box Office is open this summer from 10am – 7pm every day. www.dubaiopera.com

5 FOR THE HISTORY INTERESTED OLD DUBAI There are two main historical areas in Dubai where one can learn about the life in the past. One is Shindagha and the other is Bastakia or Al Fahidi Histo- rical Neighbourhood. Both are located on the Bur Dubai side of just opposite Deira. Shindagha has three museums with joint entry: Old Weapons Museum, Ma- nuscripts and Old Books and Prints Museum, and Crossroads of Civilizations Museum. Since the entrance is in an old building there are fairly high thres- holds and entering with a wheelchair therefore requires assistance. Once in, there are ramps to the entrances of other buildings and entrance for people in wheelchairs including one assistant free of charge. Brown tourist signs “Historical Shindagha” lead you to the area. www.themuseum.ae The other area is named after the oldest building in Dubai – Al Fahidi Fort built in 1787 and inside one can find . The ambition of the museum is to show the traditional way of life in the emirate of Dubai. The fort was initially built as premises for the monarch and a fort of defense sit- ting on the border of urban Dubai at the time. Most of the museum’s exhibits are located underground, reached by a spiral walkway. It’s fairly steep so if you’re in a manual wheelchair, you might need assistance going down and even more so going up. The Al Seef District nearby is a newly renovated area in the old style that con- sists of shops and cafés. At one end of the area is a small ferry service that takes you across Dubai Creek to Deira (described below), free for people in wheelchairs. There is no discount for people with special needs, but on the other hand entrance fee is only 3 Dhs for adults and 1 Dhs for children. Phone 04-353 1862 or 04-515 5000 [email protected] or [email protected]

DEIRA Deira is historically one of the two parts of Dubai located on either side of Dubai Creek, the other is Bur Dubai. Deira is most famous for all its markets or “souks” in Arabic. The area includes a Gold Souk, Spice Souk, Mattress Souk, Perfume Souk, Textile Souk, and more. Entrance to the Gold Souk is acces- sible but moving between each souk can be a bit tricky without assistance, since it is an old area with occasional narrow streets and high sidewalks.

6 Dubai Museum.

Spice souk in Deira.

7 AROUND THE PALACE ZABEEL PALACE This is the home of the ruler of Dubai – His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’, and the magnificent entrance with peacocks is a popular place to take pictures. The palace can only be seen from the outside, but the area is accessible for wheelchairs, and it’s a great place to take pictures. ZABEEL PARK (SOUTH) – DUBAI GARDEN GLOW The main attraction in the south end of the park is Dubai Garden Glow which is known as the world’s largest and the region’s first unique “glow destina- tion.” Dubai Garden Glow offers two different experiences encompassing ‘Art by day and Glow by night’. Younger children have a dedicated area where they can enjoy ‘learning by fun’. The venue also includes games and fun acti- vities to keep them engaged. Occupying more than 100 acres of Zabeel Park, light sculptures containing 10 million LEDs make up the attraction, which was created by a team of over 500 artists. Snack cars and food trucks are available throughout the park, as are DIY barbecue stations, so you can dine with the dinosaurs. One part is namely a Dinosaur Park with 120 animatronics Dinosaurs on display. There is also an Ice Park created with more than 5,000 tons of ice where 150 talented artists from all around the world have worked dedicatedly on assembling the ice sculptures – of frozen Glowing Safari having all Wild Animals creating a thrilling adventure trip. One cannot be convinced without seeing and expe- rienced it for real at a temperature that is set at -7 C to -8 C. Zabeel Park Gate 6 & 7 Entrance fee is AED 60 (AED 40 extra to enter the Ice Park), children under three free. Tel.: +971 56 446 7842 www.dubaigardenglow.com ZABEEL PARK (NORTH) Spanning 47.5 hectares, Zabeel Park is one of the larger parks in Dubai, located between Al Karama and World Trade Centre at Zabeel Square on Sheikh Zayed Road. Zabeel Park also holds the credit of being the first techno- logy-driven park in the Gulf. The area of the park is equivalent to 45 football playgrounds and features more than 3,000 palm trees with nearly 7,000 other trees of 14 different species. The Park is divided into sections, with pedestrian bridges connecting them. The north part of the park is where you find Dubai Frame and in the south part you find an artificial lake and Dubai Garden Glow described separately.

8 DUBAI FRAME This architectural landmark has been described by The Guardian newspaper as ”the biggest picture frame on the planet’.” It is really huge in size and one enters on one side to take an elevator up. There, you can walk across the top of the frame which can be rather scary since it has a glass floor in the middle where you can see the ground 150 meters below. At the other end you take an elevator down and finish through a presentation of the future Dubai. The whole attraction is accessible and people in wheelchair enter for free together with two additional persons. https://www.dubaiframe.ae/en

9 SEASIDE ATTRACTIONS Since Dubai is located by the Gulf don’t miss all the nice seaside attractions! Two spectacular luxury hotels are located by the water and both of them also have a water park next to them. BURJ AL-ARAB AND WILD WADI Burj al-Arab (Tower of the Arabs) is a sail-shaped building located on a man- made island off . The hotel is so fancy it only has “suites” with the smallest being 129 sqm and the largest 780 sqm. The hotel also has its own helipad 210 meter above ground. Access to the hotel is granted only to hotel guests or if you have a reservation to one of the restaurants inside. Security staff at the gate often allow you to take pictures from the gate if you don’t have either. WILD WADI Next to the entry of Burj al-Arab is a huge waterpark that really tries to accommodate people with special needs. A pickup/drop off zone is located at the entrance to the park as well as a number of dedicated car parking spaces in the car park. In addition, there are specially adapted shower, changing room and toilet facilities adjacent to the Ladies’ changing room that can accommodate guests. All entrances are conveniently designed for guests with limited mobility to enter with ease. Guests with disabilities may also bypass the queue at most rides. Check the website for further conditions that apply. Guests with disabilities get 25% off from the general admission rate. Telephone: +971 4 348 4444 Email: [email protected] www.jumeirah.com/en/hotels-resorts/dubai/wild-wadi/information/ guests-with-disabilities/ ATLANTIS THE PALM Another iconic building in Dubai is Atlantis the Palm. As the name suggests it is located at the manmade palm shaped islands off the coastline of Dubai. To enter the hotel, you must be a hotel guest or have a reservation to any of the restaurants. But sometimes security will let you through anyway to take some pictures inside the small shopping arcade at the entrance of the hotel. AQUAVENTURE WATERPARK Aquaventure Waterpark is located right next to Atlantis the Palm. It has over 17 hectares of slides and rivers, Dubai’s largest Aquarium with over 65,000 marine animals, a 500 meters private beach, and special area for the little ones.

10 The artificial island ”The Palm” in Jumeirah with Atlantis The Palm at the top.

At this writing, there is no information about accessibility on their website but we are informed by phone that the park is accessible and it offers 50% disability discount for one person in wheelchair and an additional person. The discount applies for general admission and for the AquaExpress which is a card that enables you to skip queues which according to many reviews can be quite long during popular periods. To receive mentioned discount, one need to show a valid disability card. Unfortunately the discounted tickets cannot be purchased online at the time of writing. Guests staying in the Atlantis Hotel have free access against showing their room key. https://www.atlantisthepalm.com/marine-water-park

11 ACCESSIBLE BEACHES Dubai has several beaches accessible by whe- elchair (which can also be used by parents with pushchair). The solution is walkways across the sand built to internationally recognized standards and clearly marked blue and white leading all the way down to the water. The first walkway is 135 meter long and opened at Kite Beach in July 2017, making the popular spot accessible for all. Later, dedicated paths have been added to Al Mamzar Creek, Al Mamzar Corniche, Jumeirah 2 and 3 as well as at Umm Suqeim 1 and 2. Beaches are either free of charge for everyone or if not, they (like Al Mam- zar Creek) charge a small fee but it is free for people with special needs. SCENIC WATERWAYS Dubai Ferrys is an excellent way to travel in Dubai. Apart from circular and commuter routes, there are routes that go from one port to another to ena- ble people to get a good view of the shoreline and the canal in Dubai. Round trips require a minimum of 10 passengers to run. The ferry is a great option to see the city from the sea and get a view of some of the most popular parts of Dubai including the and the Palm Jumeirah at an affordable price. The route in Dubai Water Canal was opened recently and passengers can tour along the whole canal to Al Jadaf. The ferry runs multiple times a day from each location, lasting 60-90 minutes with facilities for two classes of passenger as well as two spots for those in wheelchairs. In addition to the ferry, there are also traditional Abra (coming from the Arabic verb abara which means to cross), and as the name implies it’s used to cross the Dubai creek in different locations. Finally, there are Dubai Water Taxis which at the time of this writing is paused for maintenance. All the mentioned ways of travelling on water are accessible for people in wheelchairs. https://www.dubai-ferry.com

12 QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 The world’s most celebrated ocean liner afloat today is now one of Dubai’s iconic destinations. Docked permanently at the marina, The Queen Elizabeth 2 is the Middle East’s first floating hotel – offering passen- gers a hub of culinary and nightlife experiences, a state-of-the-art events cen- ter and a heritage attraction showcasing a rare and fascinating glimpse into maritime history. Heritage tours are available on a daily basis. Starting at the QE2 Heritage Exhibition, this guided tour takes passengers through the ship where they learn about the history of the ship, original rooms and artifacts, and get a glimpse of its accommodation. The tour costs Dhs 170 and includes a voucher of Dhs 100 for food and beverage. No discounts for people with special needs. If you prefer to stay here for your visit the ship/hotel has four acces- sible rooms. +971 4 526 8888 [email protected] www.qe2.com

13 FOR HARMONIOUS MOMENTS Dubai is mostly known for its many spectacular buildings and bustling city life but there are actually quite a few places of great tranquility for relaxation and contemplation. Some have already been described under the headline “Around the palace” where the palace garden and Zabeel park definitely offers a nice and calm experience. Here are some additional ones: DUBAI MIRACLE GARDEN The world’s largest natural flower garden featuring over 50 million flowers and 250 million plants covering an area of 72,000 sqm. Opened in 2013, by 2015 it received the Moselle Award for New Garden Experience of the year by the Garden Tourism Award. The park is absolutely magnificent with its huge selection of plantings in artistic and innovative shapes that partly chang- es depending on a theme chosen for each season. If you like flowers, colors, or just magnificent sceneries, this is a must see place to visit in Dubai. Adding to the harmony of the garden is a Fragrant Village consisting of aromatic and medicinal plants from more than 200 countries. Only open during winter (normally mid-November to mid-May), you can check the website for exact dates and opening hours. People in wheelchairs enter free of charge and the park also offers carts for disabled visitors. +971 4 422 8902 [email protected] http://www.dubaimiraclegarden.com/

14 DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN This is a part of Dubai Miracle Garden and the world’s largest butterfly park featuring 15,000 butterflies of some 26 kinds. It is an indoor garden where assistants help you interact with the butterflies and take beautiful pictures. The Butterfly Garden consists of 9 domes, where each dome is filled with various colors, sizes and species of lovely colorful butterflies. Also, between the domes, there is an alluring butterfly museum and a butterfly flower park covering 1800 square meters in all. Free of Charge for people with special needs. Contact details same as for Dubai Miracle Garden. QURANIC PARK Named one of the World’s Greatest Places by ’Time’ magazine this is a site with very pleasant atmosphere. Whether you like to learn more about Islam, which is one purpose of the park, or want to simply stroll around in a tranquil environment, you will have a great time here. The park offers more than 60 hectares of green space, including an Islamic Garden (called the Glass House) with an array of plants mentioned in the Quran, two children’s play areas, solar power harvesting ’trees’ featuring calligraphy, and a ”cave of miracles,” which uses technology to educate people about the seven miracles revealed in Islamic text. It is free to enter the park but has a small fee for The Glass House and Miracle Gave. People with special needs can enter FREE together with 2 companions. Phone +971 800 900 Email: [email protected] https://www.visitdubai.com/en/pois/holy-quran-park

15 RAS AL KHOR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Ras Al Khor (meaning “Cape or Head of the creek” in Arabic) is home to thou- sands of birds of 67 species, making it an ideal spot for eco-friendly tourism. The Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 6.2sqkm and features a variety of salt flats, intertidal mudflats, mangroves, and lagoons that birds use for their nests and individual habitats. The best time to visit Ras Al Khor wildlife sanctuary is during the winter months between October and March. Winter is when over 30,000 birds from West Asian and African countries make this sanctuary their home. Also, it is the season when pink flamingos occupy a special place in this beautiful land. Free entry. Telephone +971 4 606 6831 Email [email protected] http://wildlife-ae.herokuapp.com/ JUMEIRAH MOSQUE Jumeirah Mosque is considered by many to be the most beautiful of Dubai’s mosques. An exact copy of Cairo’s Al-Azhar Mosque, which is eight times the size, the Jumeirah Mosque is a fine example of Islamic architecture. This stone structure is built in the medieval Fatimid tradition, with two minarets that display the subtle details in the stonework. It is particularly attractive in the evening when lit with floodlights. The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding arranges visits to the iconic Jumeirah Mosque, one of only 2 mosques in Dubai which are open to non-Muslims. Register at the majlis across from the mosque and en- joy an authentic light breakfast with Arabic coffee and tea. Head towards the fountain outside where a presenter will demonstrate and explain the ‘wudu’ – cleansing process before prayers, followed by a visit inside the mosque to learn about the religion and culture of Emiratis and have all your questions answered. Modest clothing is preferred, traditional dress can be borrowed from the Mosque. Mosque Visit: AED 25 per person (no discount for people with special needs) Daily at 10am except Fridays. Registration begins at 9:30am. Includes light Emirati refreshments. Booking is not required. During the winter season afternoon visits is also arranged. Check website for details. Phone +971 4 353 6666 Email [email protected] https://www.cultures.ae/services/jumeirah-mosque-visit/

16 OTHER ATTRACTIONS MALL OF THE EMIRATES Mall of the Emirates is not really on the outskirts but just a bit off the city center and still conveniently reached with the accessible metro. The mall offers complimentary wheelchairs at the exits and valet parking is discounted by 50% for people in wheelchairs. Hands free shopping is provided meaning you can either drop of your purchased goods and pick them up later (free of charge) or have them delivered anywhere in Dubai for a fixed fee of 25 Dhs. https://www.malloftheemirates.com IMG WORLDS OF ADVENTURE

This is the world’s largest indoor theme park (140,000 sqm) which is divided into five ’epic zones’. Two zones represent global brands Cartoon Network and Marvel, while IMG Boulevard and the Lost Valley – Dinosaur Adventure zones are original concepts created by the IMG Group. Novo Cinema is the fifth section with IMG’s Worlds of Adventure. A special needs access pass is available at the Guest Relations Office to any guest requiring one. Please note that a doctor’s note is required indica- ting that the guest has special needs that prevent him/her from waiting in a normal queue line and which must be presented at the park entrance. The special ticket can be purchased at the counter only, for AED 115 for children from 1.05 to 1.2m, plus complimentary caregiver, and AED 168 for those

17 taller than 1.2m, plus complimentary caregiver. Wheelchairs are accessible inside the park. Ride restrictions: Ride WARNING signs can be found at the entrance of each ride to help determine what attractions that are best for guests based upon their experience level and physical condition. In case of emergency, the guest should be able to walk by themselves unaided for at least 10 steps. For more information, please check the Special needs guide at their web- site. www.imgworlds.com

DUBAI PARKS AND RESORTS Dubai Parks and Resorts is the Middle East’s largest integrated leisure and theme park destination consisting of , Legoland Water Park, Bollywood Park, and Riverland Dubai (a themed retail and dining destination) as well as the Polynesian-themed family resort, Lapita Hotel Dubai. This massive leisure complex features more than 100 incredible indoor and outdoor rides and attractions. No special discount for people with special needs but the park offers wheel- chairs for rent at the rate of 50 AED for manual and 220 AED for electrical. +971 4 820 0000 [email protected] http://www.dubaiparksandresorts.com/

GLOBAL VILLAGE Global Village is the world’s leading multicultural festival park and the regi- on’s first family destination for culture, shopping and entertainment. It offers unique international cuisine and awe-inspiring entertainment experiences across a wide range of entertaining games and interesting tours. Please note this is a seasonal activity open only during the cooler period of the year so please check the website for opening hours. People of determination ID cards and one (1) carergiver, enter Global Village free of charge.

Exit 37, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road Phone 04 3624114 Email [email protected] www.globalvillage.ae

For further reading we recommend the page: https://wheelchairtravel.org/ dubai/

18 INCLUSIVE TOURISM Inclusive Tourism offers world class inclusive transport based on more than 30 years’ exper- ience. During our history, the vehicles we use have continuously been improved in close dia- logue with our customers. Our ambition is to pro- vide optimum safety and comfort and, of course, inclusion. The latter is something our customers often praise by mentioning how nice it is to sit in level with other passengers making it possible to have a ordinary conversation. In most other wheelchair vehicles, the person in the wheelchair is placed in the back of the car which makes communication with others very difficult and giving some a feeling of being a “piece of luggage” – as several of our customers described it. Something that further enhances the ability to have a conversation is that the Swedish regulations for our type of vehicles state that sound levels inside should be similar to that in a normal passenger car. This is made possible through extra insulation in the ceiling and walls of the vehicles, and we still offer a very spacious interior where most people can stand up straight inside the vehicle. This is because we want it to be possible for assistants to help those in wheelchairs as comfortably as necessary. As for safety features, one of the most important is a railing system in the floor enabling securing the wheelchair with four special fixing devices before providing a seat belt for our guests in wheelchairs. Vehicles are also equipped with a high-grade alcohol ignition interlock, so drivers can’t possibly start them if they have alcohol in their breath. All vehicles are also equipped with security cameras and GPS tracking which makes it possible to continuously monitor the driving in real time. The system not only controls speed but also registers sharp turns and braking, etc. Finally, a rear air suspension system enables kneeling the vehicle for safer and more comfortable entry with a wheelchair. Comfort features also include free Wi-Fi, USB-chargers, complimentary cold water from the mini fridge in each vehicle, and cup holders at each seat. Vehicles are also equipped with extra roof top AC to provide a pleasant in- door temperature. The standard configuration of our vehicles can accommo- date two wheelchairs and five ordinary seated passengers including luggage for the whole group.

19 For booking of world class inclusive transport between the attractions or to book hotel/airport transfer, day trips/city tours etc. please contact: Phone +971 50 182 82 99 Email [email protected] www.inclusivetourism.com