People with disabilities are known in the United Arab Emirates as ‘People of Determination’ (POD) as directed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. In line with the vision of the UAE leadership, Dubai Airports is committed to providing special assistance to PODs.
From curb to gate, Dubai Airports has implemented inclusive design across all guest touchpoints and facilities, including parking, elevators, travellators, toilets, prayer rooms, lounges, APMs (airport trains), seating, loading bridges, bus transfers and baggage collection.
The inclusive design considers both visible and non-visible disabilities, with spatial considerations for guests with limited or restricted mobility. Furthermore, airport signage and wayfinding is designed to help PODs navigate easily.
Combined with the measures implemented by our partners – Dubai Police, dnata, GDRFA, Dubai Customs, RTA and DCAS – Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC) contain a full range of services for passengers with all forms of impairment. Details of the specific facilities are contained in the various sub-sections.
Dubai Taxi Corporation offers dedicated taxis for POD customers, equipped and designed with comfort in mind. Customers should follow the signs to a dedicated lane with special vehicles that can be distinguished by their size, red roof and blue icons on the side passenger doors and back window. Taxi drivers are trained and certified to deal with visual and physical impairments. The service can also be booked on the Dubai Taxi Corporation app and Careem app.
Cost
POD card holders get a 50% discount on the rate of the taxi.
Contact
Dubai Taxi Corporation’s 24/7 call centre is 800 88088.
Customers can also email Customers.Happiness@dtc.gov.ae
FAQs
For FAQs on POD taxis, click here
For general FAQs on Dubai Taxis, click here
Terms and Conditions
For terms and conditions, click here.
Wheelchair services are provided by dnata to assist departing customers from the curbside (Terminal 3 only) or check-in counters (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2) until their boarding gates. Customers can request the service when booking their ticket, or at
the dedicated airline check-in counter. Arriving passengers should identify themselves to the attendants at the arrival gate if they have booked for assistance.
dnata’s team is trained and certified to provide assistance based on US standards (Air Carrier Access Act) and may use equipment such as wheelchairs, leg support, infant belts and buggy cars. If a customer needs to check-in their personal wheelchair it will be tagged and a dnata wheelchair will be offered for the journey through the airport.
Suitable wheelchairs
Locations
Departures
Terminal 3 Economy: Customers can use the special handling people of determination counter next to the Emirates ticketing desk, or any dedicated Emirates counter near curbside entrance 1.
Terminal 3 First & Business: Customers can use the curbside assistance service for First/Business Class or any dedicated Emirates counter.
Terminal 1: Customers can use the special handling people of determination lounge located at area 4 or any dedicated airline counter.
Terminal 2: Customers can use the special handling people of determination desk located near counter 52 or any dedicated airline counter.
Arrivals
Customers that have booked the service should head to the arrival gates or remote arrival entry points.
Cost
Services are free for people of determination.
Customers with physical impairments will receive complimentary parking for two hours in all terminals at DXB. Free parking is available at DWC for all passengers.
Terminal 1
| Location | Spaces for PODs |
| A (A1, A2, A4) | 16 |
| A (A3) | 4 |
| A (A5) | 0 |
| B | 2 |
| C | 0 |
Terminal 2
| Location | Spaces for PODs |
| Supergate B1 (Shaded parking) | 0 |
| Supergate B2 (non-shaded parking) | 0 |
| Departure A2 | 6 |
| Arrival A1 | 14 |
| Staff C | 2 |
| Staff B | 2 |
Terminal 3
| Location | Spaces for PODs |
| L1 | 16 |
| L2 | 15 |
| L3 | 12 |
| L2 (Staff parking) - OOG | 2 |
| L2- GTO limos and hotel buses | 0 |
0563775801 – Duty Officer, available 24/7
0564917008
0551980507
Dubai Customs has dedicated counters with staff that are trained to deal with physical impairments, to help POD customers make a customs declaration in both Arrivals and Departures. Passengers can collect the necessary clearance for transporting goods inside and outside of the Emirate of Dubai and reserve a customs inspection of their goods.
Locations
The dedicated counters can be found in Arrivals and Departures in all terminals at DXB and DWC, with signage throughout.
Contact
Landline: 00971 441 76882
Duty officer: 00971 565 088482
Terms and Conditions
Commercial goods which are held by the passengers should be appropriate for customs duty and VAT.
Some goods, such as cash and certain commercial goods, must be declared.
Documents must be provided and submitted to the customs authorities (invoice/packing list/no objection letter if requested).
Smart Mobile App
iDeclare is a smart mobile app that links with a declaration system allowing POD customers to securely submit a customs declaration on-the-go. This provide a quick and secure transfer of information to the passengers on customs rules and regulations, helping to reduce waiting times. The app can also take a photo of any goods and automatically provide a description of the items.
iDeclare can be downloaded from the App Store
More Information
Please visit Dubai Customs’ FAQ page for more information -Click Here
PODs can get assisted through immigration check-points through GDRFA’s dedicated counters with staff that are qualified to deal with physical and hearing impairments. In Departures, customers with wheel chairs will be taken directly through the lane by an attendant. In Arrivals, customers will be supported by airport staff, with signs providing directions to the dedicated lane.
Location
Arrivals and Departures at all terminals in DXB and DWC.
dnata provides services for visually-impaired customers which can be arranged when booking a ticket via an airline. This includes constant supervision and buggy transportation – assisted by an attendant of the customer’s gender – from the check-in counter until entering the aircraft, or from the aircraft to the arrivals area. Departing customers must arrive on time and mention their request at the check-in counter. Upon arrival at DXB, the cabin crew will identify the passenger to the assisting staff.
Locations
Depatures
Terminal 3 Economy: Customers can use the special handling people of determination counter next to the Emirates ticketing desk, or any dedicated Emirates counter near curbside entrance 1.
Terminal 3 First & Business: Customers can use the curbside assistance service for First/Business Class or any dedicated Emirates counter.
Terminal 1: Customers can use the special handling people of determination lounge located at area 4 or any dedicated airline counter.
Terminal 2: Customers can use the special handling people of determination desk located near counter 52 or any dedicated airline counter.
Arrivals
Customers that have booked the service should head to the arrival gates or remote arrival entry points.
Cost
Services are free for people of determination.
dnata provides services for hearing-impaired customers which can be arranged when booking a ticket via an airline. Customers will be escorted by dnata staff with buggy cars, from the check-in counter to the aircraft door, or from the aircraft to the arrivals area.
Locations
Depatures
Terminal 3 Economy: Customers can use the special handling people of determination counter next to the Emirates ticketing desk, or any dedicated Emirates counter near curbside entrance 1.
Terminal 3 First & Business: Customers can use the curbside assistance service for First/Business Class or any dedicated Emirates counter.
Terminal 1: Customers can use the special handling people of determination lounge located at area 4 or any dedicated airline counter.
Terminal 2: Customers can use the special handling people of determination desk located near counter 52 or any dedicated airline counter.
Arrivals
Customers that have booked the service should head to the arrival gates or remote arrival entry points.
Cost
Services are free for people of determination.
PODs can get assisted through immigration check-points through GDRFA’s dedicated counters with staff that are qualified to deal with physical and hearing impairments. In Departures, customers with wheel chairs will be taken directly through the lane by an attendant. In Arrivals, customers will be supported by airport staff, with signs providing directions to the dedicated lane.
Location
Arrivals and Departures at all terminals in DXB and DWC.
Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS) provides world-class ambulance services, adhering to all relevant legislations, laws, regulations, researching and benchmarking against international best practices in medical and emergency pre-hospital care. By using modern technological systems, DCAS is able to develop and improve the level of administrative and technical performance, delivering high standards of patient care in all emergency and non-emergency cases.
Contact
The emergency contact number for ambulance inside the airports is 045045007
dnata provides transportation for passengers requiring medical assistance, accompanied by medical escorts and personal, from the Airport Medical Centres to the aircraft or vice versa. The handling of customers is carried out by authorised medical personnel. dnata also provides people of determination transportation services using an Ambulift (high lifter). Should the aircraft be parked remotely this service will be provided automatically free of charge.
Location
For departing customers, assistance is available from Airport Medical Centres in all three terminals and there are special handling counters at check-in. For arriving customers, the service is provided upon disembarking the aircraft.
Contact
To arrange the service and enquire about fees, customers should contact their respective airline.
Travel Planner is a visual guide that demonstrates the travel journey for passengers, specifically for passengers with hidden disabilities. This guide enables guests to plan their journey ahead of time, it also explains the rules and regulations for the guests’ travel experience and provides details of activities in the airport that matches their needs.
How do you use the guide?
This guide will help clarify a trip to the airport for people who may find travelling difficult. You will find information of the different steps of airport travel, and useful information on each touchpoint.
Download Travel Planner
What is the Sunflower Lanyard?
A discrete lanyard is worn by autistic passengers through the airport so that staff are able to identify them.
Dubai Airport provides lanyards to autistic passengers. The lanyard is a discrete way to allow all airport staff to identify autistic passengers and respond appropriately to any situations that may occur, or simply provide additional support.
Benefits of using the Lanyard:
Facts on the Sunflower Lanyard:
Where do I get my sunflower lanyard at the airport?
You can get your sunflower lanyard at Dubai International (DXB) and DWC at the following locations:
• Terminal 3 Departures
• Terminal 3 Arrivals
• Terminal 3: Connections
• Terminal 1 Departures
• Terminal 1 Arrivals
• Terminal 2 Departures
• Terminal 2 Arrivals
For more information please visit: https://hiddendisabilitiesstore.com/uae/
Dubai Police has implemented services to help passengers with physical, hearing, visual and mental impairments. Metal detector gates have been customized in-line with the standards and requirements for wheelchairs and 400 staff have been trained to assist passengers with intellectual disabilities. As a consideration for customers with prosthetic limbs, a special room has been allocated for inspection, where limbs are placed in special bags. To facilitate the inspection process, customers should carry any relevant medical reports.
Security check-points for PoD across DXB and DWC Arrivals and Departures.
The route consists of autism friendly check-in, dedicated lanes for Immigration, Emigration and Security Screening. There are clearly marked with the sunflower symbol (stickers on the floor) and sunflower brand on the counters.
Can we fast track check-in, immigration and security?
• There is a dedicated lane at security and immigration. Please look for the sunflower stickers on the floor that will guide you to the dedicated desk.
• Check-in – at the airline’s discretion, if you wear the sunflower lanyard, you will be called forward
How can you identify the Autism friendly route?
Staff who are trained to support POD will wear the sunflower pin
How will I identify a member of staff who can help me?
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