AccessAbilities Expo 2026 to Open in Dubai with Free Screenings and AI Tech Showcase

Expo Overview and Visitor Expectations

AccessAbilities Expo 2026 will open on October 19 at Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together more than 240 exhibitors from 50 countries. Organisers expect around 18,000 visitors from 70 countries over the three‑day event, which runs until October 21 in Za’abeel Halls 4, 5 and 6.

The exhibition aims to present solutions for mobility, visual, hearing and intellectual disabilities, as well as Autism Spectrum Disorder. Several technologies are scheduled to make their debut in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

For people with disabilities and their families in the UAE, the expo offers a chance to explore assistive devices, experience emerging technologies and receive free medical screenings, while exhibitors will provide discounts on selected products and solutions.

Technology Demonstrations and Zones

Among the highlights are AI‑powered smart glasses that deliver real‑time translation and visual assistance for people with visual impairments, and advanced electronic prosthetic limbs designed to replicate natural movement.

Smartphone applications that connect users with disabilities to accessible transport services will also be on display, together with voice‑recognition and real‑time speech‑to‑text tools for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Digital tools aimed at helping people with autism learn and communicate will be showcased, and the expo will feature dedicated artificial intelligence and virtual reality zones.

In the AI Zone participants can experiment with AI and create their own digital stories, while the VR Zone will offer immersive experiences ranging from driving and motor racing to underwater adventures and virtual visits to tourist destinations worldwide.

Programme, Events and Economic Impact

Beyond technology, the programme includes inclusive art, yoga sessions, games, hands‑on training and interactive activities. A gymnastics and parkour zone, organised in collaboration with Stamina 11, will give participants opportunities to develop movement, balance and confidence.

The International Domino Championship for People with Visual Disabilities will feature two‑player teams competing in matches that test strategy, concentration and skill.

According to World Health Organisation estimates cited by the organisers, an estimated 1.3 billion people worldwide currently live with some form of disability, including more than 50 million across the Middle East.

Global studies indicate that 3.5 billion people will need assistive technology by 2030, while only one in 10 people currently has access to the products they need.

The economic case for accessibility is significant: people with disabilities have an estimated global spending power exceeding $18 trillion annually, according to US‑based digital accessibility services company Onward Accessibility.

The global assistive technology market serving people with disabilities and older people is projected to exceed $98 billion by 2033, and the Middle East’s mobility aids market alone is expected to reach $1.1 billion by 2031.

Dubai’s exhibition will seek to connect businesses, rehabilitation providers and technology developers with potential buyers and partners through a business networking programme featuring one‑to‑one meetings.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, who is patron of the expo, said: “Dubai continues to strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading cities in accessibility and inclusive development, while AccessAbilities Expo plays a pivotal role in supporting the UAE’s vision to empower people with disabilities and ensure they have every opportunity to participate fully and effectively in society.”

The three‑day programme will feature 11 major activities, including the third Applied Behaviour Analysis Conference for Autism Spectrum Disorder, organised in collaboration with Dubai Autism Center.

The Empowerment Leaders Platform will bring together international speakers and industry experts to discuss accessibility and assistive technology, while the ninth Inclusive Education Summit will explore ways to advance inclusion across education, employment and society.

A photography competition and exhibition titled ‘Determination Without Limits’ will be held in collaboration with the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award.

The “Arts for All” showcase will highlight creative expression by artists with disabilities.

On the final day, workshops organised by the Legal Affairs Department of the Government of Dubai and the Community Development Authority in Dubai will address governance, community care, social development and volunteering.

Ghassan Suleiman, CEO of AccessAbilities Expo, said: “The AccessAbilities Expo has evolved into a global platform for exchanging expertise and helping shape the future of accessibility and inclusion. Technological developments such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality and the Internet of Things have accelerated innovation across the sector and helped improve the quality of life of millions of people around the world.”

The expo will also run an awareness campaign targeting millions of people across the region and internationally, focusing on autism, inclusive education, rehabilitation, home care, the role of the arts and healthy nutrition.