Abu Dhabi is rolling out the first stage of its groundbreaking People of Determination and Elderly Inclusive City Project on Yas Island next year.
Sara Bachar, People of Determination Senior Specialist at the Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development (DCD), highlighted the project’s progress at Aurora50’s inaugural Inclusive Workplaces Summit.
The project – a partnership between DCD and Aldar Properties to make key destinations in the capital inclusive – was announced in January.
It will address the needs of people of determination (POD), the elderly and families, with easy access to facilities, services and products, regardless of individual abilities.
The pilot phase focuses on Yas Island, chosen as a ‘microcosm’ of Abu Dhabi, with facilities including malls, schools, mosques and beaches.
Assessment studies are underway on the island; implementation should begin early 2025.
“This project creates an inclusive environment where everyone participates equally,” Ms Bachar said at the Summit.
“We want to ensure equal access to education, healthcare, employment, recreation and public services for all segments of society.”
This initiative unites stakeholders to deliver seamless, inclusive experiences for POD across Yas Island, Ms Lydiard said. “Accessibility must be addressed across destinations, not in silos,” she added.
“Well-prepared infrastructure, appropriate facilities and improved mobility” will create easy access for POD, Ms Bachar said.
This will enhance quality of life and societal integration for everyone.
Under the agreement, Aldar Properties will be involved in redesigning Yas Island’s infrastructure to align with global accessibility standards.
DCD also signed agreements this month with the Department of Municipalities and Transport and the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority to expand the project beyond Yas Island.
With the project, the emirate hopes to be accredited by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an age-friendly city.
The WHO Global Network consists of 1,300 cities and communities in 44 countries, working to improve their physical and social environments to become better places in which to grow old.
Q: Why did you choose Yas Island as the pilot area for the People of Determination and Elderly Inclusive City Project?
A: We want to deliver quick, meaningful results that go beyond policies. This project is an accelerator to provide immediate wins and valuable lessons in Abu Dhabi’s journey to becoming an inclusive city.
Yas Island is ideal because it attracts expatriates, UAE Nationals and tourists.
Its diverse infrastructure makes it perfect for implementing and testing inclusivity solutions.
It will tackle real-life challenges faced by people of determination, the elderly and families in Abu Dhabi.
Q: What will the People of Determination and Elderly Inclusive City Project involve?
A: The goal is to completely transform the city into a welcoming and accessible space for everyone.
This includes retrofitting infrastructure, creating inclusive services and training staff to meet diverse needs across the city.
It will look at accessibility across education, recreation, healthcare, employment and public spaces.
Q: What does an inclusive and accessible city look like?
A: Imagine a city where blind individuals can access Braille menus in restaurants, and staff are trained to assist the visually impaired.
Or a non-verbal autistic person visits a hospital’s ER, and caregivers and staff know how to support their needs.
It’s about more than infrastructure – it’s about delivering truly inclusive services.
Q: Where next for Abu Dhabi with this project?
A: We will implement the framework on Yas Island first and assess its success and lessons learned.
This will guide the expansion to the wider city, Al Dhafra, Al Ain and other areas, making Abu Dhabi a fully inclusive emirate in the very near future.
As the Abu Dhabi government begins planning the next phase of the strategy for the coming years, here’s a look at the first version and its key milestones:
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