Yas Mall, the largest mall in Abu Dhabi,has been announced as the first mall in the UAE capital to receive a Gold Accreditation Certificate from the World Disability Union (WDU). TheGold accreditation is the highest certification that honours entities implementing high standards and practices for People of Determination (POD). The certificate is a testament toYas Mall’s commitment and efforts to empower the UAE community by offering an inclusive environment for shopping, dining and entertainment.
Commenting on the certification, Saoud Khoory, Chief Retail Officer, Aldar Investment, said, “Our work towards increased inclusion and accessibility has been underway since inception, and we continue to find new ways to augment this by collaborating with experts, stakeholders, customers and the community. Yas Mall remains committed to providing equality for all, in line with the UAE government’s efforts to protect the rights of People of Determination.”
In coordination with Zayed Higher Organisation, Yas Mall continues to recruit People of Determination, as part of its overall commitment to equality and diversity. Mr Khaled Al Menhali, Receptionist at Yas Mall, played a significant role in accomplishing WDU Gold accreditation. With his valuable guidance and active participation, he has helped in enhancing the services and facilities across the mall to accommodate the needs of People of Determination and their families. He initiated a suitable customer journey to evaluate each and every aspect of the mall, with the aim of enhancing the existing amenities and making it a ‘People of Determination friendly’ zone.
Yas Mall caters to visitors of all abilities with world-class infrastructure and facilities. The mall has been carefully designed and equipped to offer People of Determination a comfortable and seamless shopping experience. Each level of the mall has an automatic door entrance with wheelchair ramps and has 5% of the total parking spaces designated for People of Determination. The mobility ramps are incorporated in walkways, crosswalks and building entrances, and are cane detectable for complete ease of movement. The reception areas at all the key entrances are low rise, which enables mall staff to communicate effectively and provide wheelchairs to those in need.
To make shopping a pleasurable experience, each shop offers special shopping carts suitable for People of Determination, coupled with wide corridors and low-rise payment counters. To make the trip around the mall easy, elevators are positioned at a convenient location with control panels placed at a height accessible by wheelchair users. The mall also offers the convenience of braille at the ATMs for visually impaired visitors, a wheelchair friendly cinema, as well as fully equipped game zones that cater to the needs of Children of Determination.
Through its recent partnership with Zayed Higher Organisation, Yas Mall introduced the region’s first ‘Quiet Hour’ and ‘Quiet Room’ to support people with autism and their families, as well as people with sensory disorders, to shop comfortably by providing a sensory-controlled environment.This pioneering initiative will be launched in other Aldar malls in the near future, including World Trade Centre in Abu Dhabi and Al Jimi Mall in Al Ain.
Aldar continues to make changes in its assets as part of its pledge towards social integration, empowerment of this core group of society, and to ensure an inclusive environment for all.
For more information, please visit www.yasmall.ae
