AccessAbilities Expo 2024 concludes with determination for full inclusivity
- Expo participants affirm efforts to realise the vision of UAE to be the best country for people of determination
- 250 international companies and centres from 50 countries showcased advanced technologies
- Event gets unprecedented overwhelming response; 15,000 visitors from 70 countries
- Several deals signed for collaboration, joint ventures and product developments
The Sixth edition of AccessAbilities Expo 2024, the largest event for People of Determination in the Middle East, South Asia and Africa, successfully concluded at Dubai World Trade Centre on 9 October 2024 with a determination to effectively enhance inclusion and make the UAE the most-friendly for people of determination as envisioned by the UAE.
The three-day event, inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, on October 7, 2024 was participated by more than 15,000 visitors and more than 250 international companies, brands and centres specializing in the rehabilitation of people of determination from 50 countries across the world.
Inaugurating the event, His Highness affirmed that the UAE has achieved remarkable accomplishments in its legislation, policies, and programs to empower and integrate people of determination into the society, providing them with equal opportunities in all walks of life.
This year’s edition was marked by the launch of a host of assistive technology and rehabilitative products and advanced products and technologies for the first time in the region.
Advanced assistive technologies, powered by latest innovations in the fields of robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), with an ability to significantly improve the lifestyle of persons of determination were showcased at the Expo.
Participating companies said they received overwhelming response from peer companies and trade visitors.
Many agreements were signed between participating companies and organisations for collaboration, joint ventures and product developments.
The UAE is one of the best countries in the world when it comes to addressing the needs of people of determination and providing the latest innovative technologies and products that can help them live independently and happily.
The sixth edition is the biggest since it was started in 2016 and the overwhelming response has encouraged the organisers, Nadd Al Shiba PR & Event Management, to announce an even bigger expo next year, on October 6, 7, and 8, 2025.
Participating companies and organisations have expressed satisfaction that the Expo was well-organised and they could get encouraging leads for collaborating with different stakeholders as well as to improve their businesses.
The Expo is the largest B2B platform in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region focusing on technology for people of determination and their rehabilitation.
Margrit Saroufim, Vice Minister, Ministry of Social Solidarity, Arab Republic of Egypt, said her government is looking for collaborating with other governments, the private sector and centres to adopt policies aimed at inclusion of people of determination in her country.
“This AccessAbilities Expo is well organized and I should congratulate the organisers for bringing all stakeholders on a single platform to explore collaboration for common good.”
‘SpeechSync, the first Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) app in the UAE was officially launched by Mr Jaffar bin Jaffar, Director, Dubai Health Care City Authority at the Expo. Designed by expert speech therapists, SpeechSync is set to redefine communication technology and empower individuals facing communication challenges.
Inclusive Accessibility Solutions provider Topland showcased a series of innovative hearing aid devices branded HEARNU, world’s first non-surgical programmable hearing aid for people with conductive hearing loss.
“We are planning to set up a manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi in collaboration with Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination,” said Andy Faulkner, CEO of Topland.
Mr Praveen Kumar, Chairman and Managing Director of Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (Alimco), said: “We are extremely happy that the Expo gave us the opportunity to meet and discuss collaboration with prospective partners.”
Dr. Mohammed Almubarak, Chairman of the Board of Abronn, said his company with the largest diverse products and handicap solutions received many enquiries for collaboration and distribution of its medical equipment, hospital furniture, medical beds and Wheelchair Lifts.
Mr Buravkov Alexander, CEO of Tiflo Technika, tectile equipment manufacturer from Russia, said the Expo gave his company the opportunity to showcase its various tiling solutions meant for people of determination.
“We were participating for the first time in the event, and encouraged by the response, we want to come back again next year to explore more collaborations.”
Mariusz Arent, Export Director, SIMED, from Poland, said his company which manufactures hospital beds, received good leads to enter the Gulf market to supply medical beds to various hospitals and rehabilitation centres.
The Expo was organized to provide a global platform for discussing the issues affecting more than 50 million people of determination in the Middle East region alone, who are looking for the best technology and practices to enable them to lead an independent and happy life.
“We are thanful to His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Seed Al Maktoum for his unstinted support as patron ever since the Expo was organized since 2016,” said Mr Ghassan Suleiman, CEO of AccessAbilities Expo.
“We are glad that the participating companies and centres have benefited from the Expo in building relationships to reach out to more than 50 million people of determination in the Middle East and the huge market for assistive technologies and rehabilitation practices to make their life comfortable and independent,” said Mr Ghassan Suleiman, who is also Managing Director of Nadd Al Shiba PR & Event Management, the organizer of the AccessAbilities Expo.
The annual event was held in the context of the World Health Organization (WHO) saying that over 2.5 billion people worldwide currently need one or more assistive products, and the number of people needing assistive technology is expected to reach 3.5 billion by 2050. However, in many countries, most people who need this technology do not have access to it.
According to current estimates, more than 4,000 assistive technologies have been designed for people with disabilities and the elderly, ranging from wheelchairs to a wide array of high-tech tools.
The global assistive technology market for people with disabilities and the elderly is expected to reach approximately $50 billion by 2030, according to Next Move Strategy Consulting.
The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific estimates that about 350 million women and girls with disabilities live in the Asia-Pacific region, making up more than half of the region’s total population with disabilities. According to the Asian Development Bank, the highest prevalence rate of children with disabilities (13.6%) is in South Asia, while the lowest rate (8.9%) is in Europe and Central Asia.
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