Protection, support and assistance of people of determination
According to Federal Law No. 2 of 2001, people of determination (citizens with special needs) are entitled to receive monthly assistance subject to terms as per the existing laws. The UAE launched the Emirati sign language dictionary, which seeks to develop and standardise the signs used by people with hearing impairments, across the UAE. Find digital services for people of determination.
Online services for people of determination
The UAE Government provides specific services to benefit people of determination. Services range from providing a medical card and rehabilitation to providing monthly social assistance; from providing jobs to translating documents into sign language and providing educational material in Braille.
Websites and the online services use simple language and include features such as the option to increase the size of the text, use of vivid colours, text-to-speech software and ALT text in order to be user-friendly for the people of determination. Icons are paired with their associated labels to ensure people of determination know what to expect before clicking on the 'Call to Action' button.
- Issue health card - Emirates Health Services (EHS)
- Issuance of People of Determination card - Ministry of Community Empowerment
- Application for licensing of non-governmental rehabilitation institutions – Ministry of Community Empowerment
- Registration in disability care and rehabilitation centers and early intervention centers and units – Ministry of Community Empowerment
- Issue Sanad card - Community Development Authority (CDA)
- Issue people of determination card - Zayed Authority for People of Determination
- Sign language interpreter for entities - Zayed Authority for People of Determination
- Provide materials in Braille for entities - Zayed Authority for People of Determination
- Privilege services for the people of determination - Etisalat
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Subscribe to a sports club membership - Zayed Authority for People of Determination
Find list of digital services for people of determination in Abu Dhabi (TAMM).
The UAE sign language dictionary
In 2018, the UAE launched the ‘Emirati sign language dictionary’, which seeks to develop and standardise the signs used by people with hearing impairments across the UAE. The dictionary includes several words for teaching people with hearing difficulties and training the sign language translators.
Provision under the law
Federal Law No. 29 of 2006 Concerning the Rights of People with Disabilities, as amended with federal law No. 14 of 2009 (the law) protects the rights of people of determination and guarantees them the right to live with dignity. Discrimination is defined as any segregation, exclusion or restriction due to special needs leading to the damage or denial of recognition of any rights granted by the prevailing legislation in the country or its practice or enjoyment on an equal footing. This way, the UAE strives to empower and promote the social inclusion of all.
Dubai’s law on the rights of people of determination
Law No. 3 of 2022 on the Rights of People of Determination (people with disabilities) in the Emirate of Dubai seeks to include people of determination in the process of drafting policies and legislations that concern them or may affect their quality of life.
The law sets forth their rights and the services that relevant entities should provide them. Services include:
- inclusive education at every stage
- rehabilitation
- inclusive job opportunities in all sectors
- healthcare, therapeutic and social services
- other services such as worship, police and legal services.
People of determination should have the ability to access data and information through various platforms and be informed about their legal rights. They must have access to banking services and be able to participate in various sports and entertainment programmes, among others.
The law also outlines the tasks and responsibilities of government entities in implementing this law. It also stipulates creating a permanent committee named the ‘Higher Committee to Protect the Rights of People of Determination’. The Committee will be tasked with supervising all affairs concerning people of determination in Dubai, and implementing policies, plans and initiatives aimed at protecting their rights.
Who are people of determination?
Under the National Policy for Empowering People with Special Needs, people with special needs or disabilities will be referred to as ‘people of determination’ to recognise their achievements in different fields. As explained on the Abu Dhabi portal, the law defines a person with special needs as someone suffering from a temporary or permanent, full or partial deficiency or infirmity in his physical, sensory, mental, communication, educational or psychological abilities to an extent that limits his possibility of performing the ordinary requirements as people without special needs.
Protection from abuse
The UAE Cabinet approved a People of Determination Protection from Abuse Policy aiming at protecting the people with special needs from abuse while empowering them, their families and their co-workers to deal with cases of abuse.
The Government condemns all forms of abuse and neglect of people of determination. Abuse and neglects involves depriving people of determination of their basic right to care, rehabilitation, medical care, recreation or community integration. It also condemns using such people to get material profits and not spend on them.
Related links:
- The Cabinet Approves a Policy to Protect People of Determination from Abuse – UAE Cabinet
- UAE Cabinet approves policy to protect ‘People of Determination’ – WAM
Live support about public services
Dubai police offers the ‘Universal Accessibility Pack’ feature on its website to ensure convenient and user-friendly access by people of determination (people with special needs).The ‘Universal Accessibility Pack’ feature can be accessed by clicking on the logo of 'People of Determination' in the top right corner of the Dubai Police website.
The feature includes customisation options such as: the ability to select preferred font types for website and service usage, and to adjust character spacing, word spacing, line spacing, text size, text alignment and colours.
Other features of the pack include:
- a smart reader programme
- a virtual sign language translator
- assistance settings for individuals with attention deficit and reading difficulties
- support for those with epilepsy seizure
- a colour contrast feature for individuals with visual impairments
- special features that cater to the needs of people of determination, such as an enlarged mouse cursor.
The content of the Dubai Police website is translated into 131 languages.
Some entities offer support in the form of a video in which an animated character communicates with the user in sign language. When the user rests the tip of his mouse on a certain text, the character in the video translates that text in the sign language.
This portal and many other government websites use text-to-speech facility. Users just need to select text and a software will read it out aloud.
Ministry of Economy published awareness videos in sign language.
Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination (ZHO) offers translation service in sign language. Any government entity or business or an individual can request ZHO for translation and ZHO will get the text translated into sign language for the benefit of people of determination.
Roads and Transport Authority has many videos for people who cannot hear properly. The videos have an interpreter speaking in sign language about the features of public transportation in Dubai. View the videos.
Accessible transport and parking facilities
The UAE has taken extensive measures to enhance the accessibility of transportation for people of determination. Under Article 25 of the Federal Law No. 29 of 2006 concerning the Rights of Persons with Special Needs, roads, public transport, and land, sea and air transport, must comply with technical standards that meet the needs of people of determination. This includes providing accessible signage such as Braille in public facilities.
People of determination have designated parking spots. They can apply to Ministry of Interior for such parking permit.
The ID card for people of determination issued by Ministry of Community Empowerment offers many facilities and benefits in transport sector and others.
Abu Dhabi
People of determination are exempt from paying tolls. In addition, they have the privilege to unlimited travel in Abu Dhabi and its suburbs buses and 50 per cent discount on intercity bus services. All buses are equipped to be accessible for People of Determination to use wheelchairs. They also get 50 per cent off the total fare cost on taxi rides.
Sourced from: Abu Dhabi Mobility
Dubai
The people of determination are exempt from paying Salik toll on one vehicle. Means of public transport provide wide doors to facilitate the entry and exit for the people of determination. There are spacious elevators for wheelchair movement. At the customer service centres, there is a receptionist available to assist. All ticket-selling booths are designed to be accessible to wheelchair users.
Sourced from: RTA, Dubai
Also read about the various services and facilities provided by Dubai Municipality to the People of Determination.
Watch this video to learn more about these facilities and services offered for people of determination in Dubai.
Sharjah In Sharjah, people of determination can use the public transport service within Sharjah city free of charge.
New logo for people of determination
In December 2019, the UAE government introduced a new logo for people of determination, which replaced the old logo. The new logo emphasises that the people of determination are active members of the society and that they are independent, self-determined people who adapt to new environments; thus, easily integrating in various educational, practical and social fields.
Additionally, Ministry of Community Empowerment adopted new symbols for each of the disabilities mentioned in the document titled National Classification of Disabilities (PDF, 2.29 MB file in Arabic). The types of logos are as mentioned below:
- broad logos which embrace:
- visual impairment
- physical impairment
- hearing impairment
- combined logos, where more than one disability is present, and include:
- deaf-blind disability
- multiple disability
- specific logos to indicate the below disabilities:
- emotional/psychological disorders
- specific learning disorder
- attention hyperactive disorder
- autism spectrum disorder
- communication disorders
- intellectual disability.
The new logo is in accordance with the UAE National Policy for Empowering People of Determination, which includes several pillars to empower people of determination and recognise their accomplishments in different fields.
Updated on:
02 Feb 2026
Social assistance for people of determination
According to Federal Decree-Law No. (23) of 2024 on Social Support and Empowerment, people of determination (citizens with special needs as known before) are entitled to receive monthly assistance subject to terms as per the existing laws.