Dubai.. "International Expo for People of Determination" It showcases the latest assistive technologies introduced for the first time in the region
Dubai, 8 July / WAM / The World Expo for People of Determination, in its eighth session for the year 2026, which will be held in Dubai from next October 19 to 21 at the Dubai World Trade Center under the slogan “Integrating Communities… Empowering Lives,” will showcase an exceptional collection of the latest assistive technologies and inclusive innovations to confirm its position as the largest event in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia region concerned with People of Determination.
Expectations indicate that the value of the global market for assistive technologies will rise from 30.5 billion US dollars in 2026 to about 65.2 billion US dollars by 2034, of which 5 billion dollars is the value of the market size of countries in the region.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Supreme Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, and Patron of the International Expo for People of Determination, said that the exhibition has become the largest and most important in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, and is concerned with enhancing accessibility, assistive technologies, rehabilitation and community integration.
His Highness added that by bringing together government agencies, innovators, healthcare service providers, educational institutions, international organizations and the private sector under one roof, the exhibition provides an ideal platform for exchanging knowledge, reviewing the latest solutions and innovations, and building strategic partnerships that contribute to improving the quality of life and enhancing the independence of people of determination.
His Highness stressed that as Dubai continues to consolidate its position as one of the world’s leading cities in the areas of accessibility and comprehensive development, initiatives such as the International Expo for People of Determination play a pivotal role in supporting the UAE’s vision of empowering people of determination and ensuring their full and effective participation in society.
He said: We look forward to welcoming exhibitors and participants from different parts of the world to this session to work together to shape the future of accessibility, enhance innovation, and contribute to building more inclusive societies at the regional and global levels.
Ghassan Suleiman, CEO of Nad Al Sheba Public Relations and Exhibition Organizing Company, the organizer of the International Expo for People of Determination, said that assistive technologies give people of determination the ability to face life’s challenges with greater confidence and independence, and despite the rapid development in the fields of digitization and technology, the journey of empowering them still faces many challenges related to the availability of these technologies, ease of access and adoption in many countries of the world.
He added: Over the past years, we have succeeded in bringing assistive technologies closer to the people of determination community more than ever before, and there is an increasing and accelerating demand for these products, while modern and emerging technologies continue to open new horizons for people of determination to learn, work, interact with society, and enjoy a more independent life. Data-based digital technologies also contribute to improving their quality of life and enhancing their social integration.
It is noteworthy that assistive technologies supported by artificial intelligence are witnessing unprecedented development, as they provide innovative solutions that reshape the future of accessibility and independence for people of determination. From smart glasses equipped with artificial intelligence and built-in cameras that describe the surrounding environment for the blind, read texts, and guide them vocally during movement, to continuous speech recognition systems and instant transcription of conversations that adapt to speech disorders, solutions and innovations for self-guided mobility, and smart prosthetics, technology has become a pivotal role in improving the quality of life of people of determination and adaptation. Ideal for their needs.
The World Health Organization estimates that about 90 percent of people of determination around the world do not have access to the assistive technologies they need due to the inability to afford them or their unavailability.
The Global Report on Assistive Technologies confirms that only 3 percent of people who need smart wheelchairs, hearing aids, white canes, adaptive bicycles, wearable neuromuscular devices, rehabilitation robots, and advanced prosthetics equipped with sensory feedback are actually able to access and purchase them.
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