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28 March 2024

Dubai Parks to be disabled-friendly by 2016

Published
By Wam

Dubai Municipality has announced that it plans to begin restructuring all major parks in the emirate to make them more accessible and friendly for disabled people within the next two years, and entirely so by 2020.

The move comes as part of the civic body’s commitment to achieve Dubai Government's strategic goal to be one of the most friendly cities in the world for people with special needs by the year 2020, through the initiative ‘My Community - A City for Everyone,' launched by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.

Work on the project is due to start in October and is expected to take two years to complete. The initial phase of the project will be implemented at Al Mamzar Beach Park and Jumeirah Beach Park, with other major parks to follow.

Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, said, "The project will cover all major public and residential parks and the move is aimed at giving disabled children a place to play and help them mingle with society in all fields of life.

"Dubai Municipality has paid great attention to special needs by setting requirements for the city's buildings and public facilities, including parks, streets and markets, as well as by holding activities that aim to reach out to and enable the integration of people with special needs," Lootah said.

The project's long-term plans will see parks have playing equipment installed for children with special-needs. Adequate toilet facilities and parking spaces for disabled drivers will also be provided.

"Disabled people will be given free access to all major parks, and wheelchairs will be available for them to use," he concluded.