kabarsula Emirates previews accessible lounge suite and cabin concepts at AccessAbilities Expo bandar SLOT INDONESIA

Emirates has unveiled several accessibility concepts still in development – including a cabin familiarisation experience for blind and low-vision customers, an accessible lounge suite and biometric boarding gates – at the AccessAbilities Expo in Dubai.

The airline’s stand at the eighth edition of the expo, running at Dubai World Trade Centre from 19–21 October, was opened by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline & Group and patron of the event.

Emirates divisional senior vice president of customer affairs and service audit Mostafa Karam said the airline wanted to “help shape a more inclusive future for aviation” by considering accessibility across the whole journey – from planning and the airport through to onboard and destination.

Concepts in development

The cabin exploration activation uses spatial audio, tactile seat exploration and guided host interaction. Visitors sit in a real A350 seat with a U-Dream headrest while audio describes the cabin around them.

The accessible lounge suite is a wheelchair-accessible evolution of the Emirates Lounge Suites introduced in First Class lounges in 2024. It features a powered lift recliner, integrated grab bars and dedicated wheelchair storage with transfer space. The prototype is being developed for First Class, with other classes a possibility.

At Terminal 3 in Dubai, accessible boarding gates already use barrier-free design and biometrics, with cameras that self-adjust to height and angle for wheelchair users. Self-service check-in kiosks have also been upgraded with text-to-speech, braille and tactile features, a headphone connection and height-adjustable interfaces.

Existing services

Emirates also showcased services already available:

• Travel Rehearsals: the airline has completed 80 rehearsals across six continents – including Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney – with more than 400 families taking part, helping children and young adults with autism practise the airport journey. More than 35,000 staff have been trained to support customers with autism.
• Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub: the Emirates.com hub lets customers browse support by disability type, stage of journey or specific need, with sections on mobility aids, medical travel and family travel.
• Inflight entertainment: ice offers more than 850 movies with closed captions and 200 with audio description. On the A350-900, a new interface developed with Thales and advocacy groups adds audio-cue navigation, voice feedback and gesture support.
• Sensory products: fidget toys and sensory items are available in all cabin classes for neurodivergent passengers and nervous flyers.
• Chauffeur drive: 10 wheelchair-accessible Mercedes V Class vehicles are available in Dubai for eligible First and Business Class customers, with plans to extend access.

Emirates became the world’s first autism certified airline in March 2025 and has established an Office of Accessibility and Inclusion.