The biggest event for disabled people in the Middle East is called AccessAbilities Expo.
WHO: Only one in ten people have access to the aids to daily living that they need.
The Middle East’s largest exhibition for people with disabilities, which will focus on access products and services to improve the abilities of people with people with 27 different types of disabilities, will take place in Dubai over three days starting on November 15 and will feature the widest and most impressive innovative assistive technology products.
A person’s functioning and independence are maintained or improved by assistive products, which is good for their wellbeing.
The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)’s three large halls are home to the AccessAbilities Expo (AAE), which will serve as the largest marketplace for businesses making and selling accessible products as well as for nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, and institutions of higher learning and medical care.
According to its organizers, Nadd Al Shiba PR and Event Management, the business- and consumer-focused platform, which will be held for the fourth time, is the solution to meeting the aspirations and expectations of the more than 50 million People with Disabilities who live in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries.
It is being held under His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum’s sponsorship, who is also Chairman of Dubai Airports, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Airline and Group.
This event is part of the notable initiatives being made by public and private organizations in the second-largest economy in the Arab world to empower People of Determination over the next 50 years.
According to His Highness, “The UAE is confidently moving forward on the path of building an inclusive society for People of Determination and their families, within the framework of the policy set out by our wise government to ensure their access to opportunities, facilities, and distinguished lifestyles in the country.”
“AAE will contribute to fulfilling the commitment to bring the best technologies and services from around the world to help our public and private sectors improve the lives of People of Determination and create a common platform to meet and cooperate with the international community to build a sustainable future that meets the aspirations of People of Determination,” the statement reads.
AAE General Coordinator Ghassan Suleiman Amhaz said, “People with disabilities can navigate and explore the world much more conveniently and comfortably thanks to technology, which also helps People of Determination by removing many barriers.
The Expo has made a name for itself as a platform for the best technologies required by people with disabilities, of which there are 50 million worldwide and 20 million in the Middle East alone.
It is both a moral obligation and sound business practice to raise their living and working standards.”
The organizers anticipate that over 250 businesses and medical and rehabilitation facilities from 50 different countries will attend the exhibition on behalf of public and private organizations. Over the course of its operation, it will draw more than 10,000 tourists from various nations both inside and outside the region, filling the market’s gap.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), only one in 10 people in need today have access to assistive technology due to high costs, lack of awareness and availability, shortage of trained personnel, ineffective policies and mismatched financing.
Assistive Technology is an umbrella term covering the systems and services related to the delivery of assistive products and services.
Assistive products maintain or improve an individual’s functioning and independence, thereby promoting their well-being.
Hearing aids, wheelchairs, communication aids, spectacles, prostheses, pill organizers and memory aids are among the range of assistive products. Globally, more than one billion people need one or more assistive product.