Dubai will play host to AccessAbilities Expo, the region’s premier trade, professional and consumer event aimed at enhancing the lives of people with disabilities, next November, organisers said.

The event will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 7th to 9th November. It aims to provide a single platform to the entire business and civil community in the Middle East, their families and caregivers, governments and leading international technology vendors to showcase solutions, technologies and services, and make the most of the new business opportunities.

AccessAbilities Expo 2017 is expected to welcome over 180 exhibitors and more than 7,000 visitors in Dubai this year. As the Middle East’s dedicated exhibition for products, services and technologies related to the disabilities and rehabilitation sectors, the AccessAbilities Expo will provide a platform for government and private organisations to showcase their portfolio of products and services, along with their future plans to support more than 700 million people with disabilities worldwide, over 50 million of whom reside in the Middle East.

The expo also seeks to motivate government authorities and private sector players to change their perception about people with special needs and improve their services to meet their requirements, integrate them into society, and enable them to overcome their daily challenges. With the goal of promoting networking and finding solutions to these challenges, the AccessAbilities Business Connect platform highlights disability initiatives, promotes sharing of best practices, helps establish new connections, and creates opportunities to meet leading suppliers focused on the needs of those with disabilities.

AccessAbilities is tailored to both buyers and sellers through pre-arranged meetings, facilitated by a team of business matchmaking professionals. In this way, brands in attendance can reach new audiences to showcase solutions, technologies and services, and make the most of the new business opportunities.

AccessAbilities Expo 2017 will feature a sports area, a racing track, table tennis, a recreational activity area with yoga, dancing, meditation and martial arts classes, and an innovation lab for exhibitors to showcase the latest assistive technologies and innovative products.

A conference on inclusion in the workplace will motivate companies to discuss the problems that might arise when employing people of determination, in the hope of dissipating any doubts during the hiring process.