Emirates has officially unveiled its interactive stand at the 8 th edition of AccessAbilities Expo – the region’s leading event for accessibility & inclusive innovation, took place at Dubai World Trade Centre from the 19-21 October 2026.
The exhibition was officially opened by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group and patron of the AccessAbilities Expo.
The Emirates exhibition revealed several innovative and future-focused ideas currently in development – including a cabin familiarization concept being explored for customers who are blind or have low vision, an accessible lounge suite for customers with reduced mobility, as well as biometric boarding gates for customers with accessible travel requirements.
Mostafa Karam, Divisional Senior Vice President of Customer Affairs and Service Audit at Emirates, said “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.”
Emirates cabin exploration for low vision
On the stand, Emirates showcased an immersive accessibility-led experience into the onboard journey for passengers who are blind or with 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 be immersed in an audio-led experience while sitting in a real Emirates A350 aircraft seat with a U-Dream headrest, as the audio describes all 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.
