Emirates unveils accessible travel innovations at AccessAbilities Expo Dubai 2026

Dubai: Emirates has officially unveiled its interactive stand at the eighth edition of AccessAbilities Expo, the region’s leading event for accessibility and inclusive innovation, taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 19 to 21 October 2026. The exhibition was officially opened by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, and patron of AccessAbilities Expo. The Emirates exhibition revealed several innovative and future-focused ideas currently in development, including a cabin familiarisation concept being explored for customers who are blind or have low vision, an accessible lounge suite for customers with reduced mobility, and biometric boarding gates for customers with accessible travel requirements. “Emirates’ ambition is to help shape a more inclusive future for aviation as part of the core customer experience. We are looking beyond individual services and working with our partners to consider accessibility across the complete journey, from planning and the airport environment to the onboard experience and across destinations. Guided by customer insight and lived experience, our focus is on practical improvements that reduce barriers, expand choice, and enable people to travel with greater clarity, confidence, independence, and dignity,” said Mostafa Karam, Divisional Senior Vice President of Customer Affairs and Service Audit at Emirates. Emirates cabin exploration for customers with low vision At the stand, Emirates showcased an immersive, accessibility-led experience of the onboard journey for passengers who are blind or have low vision. Through a combination of spatial audio, tactile seat exploration and guided host interaction, the activation recreates key moments of the aircraft cabin experience in a calm, premium environment. Visitors are invited to experience an audio-led journey while sitting in a real Emirates A350 aircraft seat with a U-Dream headrest, as the audio describes aspects of the cabin around them. Rather than focusing solely on technology, the experience highlights how thoughtful design can help passengers build confidence, understand their surroundings, and travel with greater independence, dignity and ease. Emirates barrier-free access and biometrics in Dubai Visitors to the Emirates stand can see and experience the Emirates Biometric Path. At Emirates’ hub in Terminal 3 at Dubai International (DXB), accessible boarding gates feature a barrier-free design and biometrics to support smooth, independent movement for passengers with disabilities. The area now features flexible camera coverage, allowing cameras to self-adjust to different heights and angles without restricting or dictating a person’s movement if they use a wheelchair. Emirates’ self-service check-in kiosks have also been improved with text-to-speech functionality, enhanced touchscreen usability, Braille and tactile features, audio accessibility via a headphone connection, and height-adjustable interfaces that support a wider range of passenger needs. Emirates Accessible Lounge Suite Emirates also showcased a new, dedicated wheelchair-accessible quiet area that offers customers with reduced mobility a comfortable and private space to rest and recharge before their flight. Emirates Lounge Suites provide customers with private spaces to relax, work and dine in comfort and were first introduced in First Class Lounges in 2024. Drawing on the Emirates ground and inflight experience, they combine premium design with integrated technology, including wireless charging and entertainment screens. The Accessible Lounge Suite is the next evolution of the concept. It is designed to support passengers who use wheelchairs, passengers with reduced mobility, older travellers and anyone who may benefit from additional comfort, transfer space or postural support, while retaining the privacy and premium quality of the original suite. Finished in the latest Emirates lounge palette of wood, leather and marble, the suite integrates accessibility into its design. Features include a powered lift recliner with uplift, swivel and recline functions, as well as integrated grab bars for enhanced support and independence. The lounge suite also includes dedicated wheelchair storage and accessible transfer space, enabling customers to relax independently or with the support of a companion. The prototype is currently being developed for First Class, with the potential to expand to other classes in the future. Products and services currently available to Emirates customers Emirates Travel Rehearsals Programme Emirates Travel Rehearsals are bespoke events arranged by Emirates and airports around the world. They enable children and young adults with autism, together with their families and support networks, to practise the journey through the airport in preparation for real flights, helping to ease travel anxiety and empower them to fly with greater confidence. More than 35,000 Emirates