Manal Ataya is an adviser to the Sharjah Museums Authority
December 25, 2023
It is a fundamental principle in the UAE to ensure that every person in this rapidly growing country should be able to fully engage in society. At the heart of this principle lies accessibility. Public spaces should be designed to be open, inclusive and inviting to everyone, whether those are outdoor gardens, indoor shopping malls or cultural institutions.
Universal design, according to the late product designer Ronald Mace, emphasises the creation of products, processes and complete environmental interventions that can be used by all. This approach is especially crucial for the full inclusion of persons with disabilities, who make up roughly 15 per cent of the world's population.
The term “accessibility” should not be limited to physical access to buildings but should encompass broader accommodations that allow for the inclusion of persons with sensory disabilities (vision and hearing) as well as persons with intellectual disability.
A wheelchair accessible path at Kite beach, Dubai. The National
Examples of such accommodations include access to a diversity of formats when offering information (such as Braille, audio options, or large text print), digital inclusion by implementing digital accessibility standards and features in all platforms, and an all-encompassing approach to how we communicate and interact with persons with disabilities.
During my tenure leading the museums authority in Sharjah, I made it a fundamental pillar of work to ensure that people with disabilities or “persons of determination”, as adopted by the UAE, felt included in spaces and were able to engage with our collections and in our cultural activities and events.
This particular outlook was imprinted on me when I wrote an essay about the topic for my museum design course in graduate school in 2002. At the time the concept was new, with its principles having been developed only a few years prior, in 1997.
The concept of inclusive spaces that dismantle literal and symbolic barriers was revolutionary for its de-stigmatising of differences in ability. It utilised a set of principles that championed the promotion of diversity, understanding and social cohesion.
This notion continued to resonate with me when a debilitating lower back injury over a decade ago temporarily “disabled” me physically for over a year. It is a concept that I ensured my team kept in mind when working with the community of persons with disabilities.
Our abilities, whether physical, sensory, behavioural, or otherwise, are unique. They are not fixed and can change temporarily or permanently throughout our life times.
In the UAE cultural institutions, such as Sharjah museums, are leading the way in inclusive practices. They have trained staff that can offer tours in Arabic sign language, tactile exhibits, larger text material and Braille offerings in both English and Arabic, audio guides and accessible space considerations for wheelchairs, among other features. But to truly embody a commitment to enhancing accessibility, Sharjah museums designed a comprehensive free annual programme for people with disabilities, offered weekly in both Arabic and English.
Target groups include persons with behavioural and cognitive disabilities. We strengthened this investment in online platforms and digital content to reach broader audiences. I remember instituting our long term “Autism Friendly Museums” initiative in 2018 across Sharjah museums when a conversation with an old friend revealed the extent of her struggles with her two young children who were diagnosed with autism.
As successful as the initiative was, we were the first-of-its-kind, dedicated scheme in a public space, in the GCC with specifically designed activities to create learning experiences that met the needs of children with autism. This indicated that there was still more we needed to do to meet the needs of people with different disabilities and embed it in our everyday lives and mindset as a society.
In the Middle East, particularly the UAE, significant strides have been made in recognising the rights of individuals with disabilities and promoting universal accessibility. Sharjah paved the way with the establishment of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) in 1979, later decreed in 1995 as an independent organisation in the Emirate of Sharjah aiming to serve people with disabilities in the UAE.
Years later, legal frameworks, including Federal Law No 29 of 2006, which opposes disability-based discrimination and advocates for equal opportunities and accessibility, came into effect. Moreover, initiatives such as the UAE Vision 2021 and the Abu Dhabi Plan for People of Determination 2020-2024, focus on inclusive societies, providing equal opportunities and accessibility, aligning with global sustainable development principles including education, employment and accessibility to public spaces.
I believe we can all improve the environment we live in. This begins with raising awareness and building empathy and understanding towards persons with disabilities, their families, and their communities to promote an inclusive mindset. It is a crucial aspect to providing equal opportunities and enhancing overall well-being in the community.
Such an approach must be underpinned by government bodies, educational institutions, disability organisations and advocacy groups. Furthermore, with the UAE as a forerunner in the field of technology and smart services, reviewing current infrastructure and embracing universally designed and inclusive technological advancements can significantly enhance accessibility, making all spaces user friendly.
Even as the country has already taken substantial steps towards promoting accessibility and inclusion, there is room for growth. And my hope is that all of us, with our own areas of agency, can commit to ensuring that people with disabilities have access to a more inclusive and equitable world.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
Rohan Mustafa (captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan
Results
2.30pm: Expo 2020 Dubai – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: Barakka, Ray Dawson (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer)
3.05pm: Now Or Never – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: One Idea, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson
3.40pm: This Is Our Time – Handicap (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Perfect Balance, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar
4.15pm: Visit Expo 2020 – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Kaheall, Richard Mullen, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.50pm: The World In One Place – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1.900m; Winner: Castlebar, Adrie de Vries, Helal Al Alawi
The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes. The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
Emirates Cricket Board Women’s T10
ECB Hawks v ECB Falcons
Monday, April 6, 7.30pm, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
The match will be broadcast live on the My Sports Eye Facebook page
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Volunteers offer workers a lifeline
Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.
When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.
Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.
Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.
“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.
Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.
“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.
Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
