Smart Tips for Traveling in Dubai with a Wheelchair

Dubai is an amazing city and everyone should make it their aim to visit this part of the world but for the wheelchair-bound it is not easy to navigate this city. Nevertheless, if one takes time to plan his or her trip, the task can be very easy, and one can tour the city in a comfortable manner. Regardless of whether you are an active wheelchair user, or you require a manual wheelchair with you, here are some top pointers for your Dubai visit.

Plan Your Accommodation in Advance

Some of the first decisions that you would need to make is where you will be living. Not all the hotels in Dubai may be friendly to wheelchair users and therefore it is good to check the hotel you want to book in order to know if it’s wheelchair friendly or not. Several of the travel accommodations to look for are accessible rooms; rooms with wider doors, roll-in showers, and more. You should also ensure that the hotel has lifts and barriers in the regular regions, for instance, the reception as well as the eating joints.

Whenever possible contact the hotel management prior to booking and inquire about the design of the room and its level of accommodations for the disabled. This makes sure that one is comfortable during his or her stay.

Choose Accessible Transportation Options

Dubai has several accessible transport options which can be used by a disabled person when sightseeing. The transport within the city is best done via the metro because they have elevators, ramp facilities as well as areas for wheelchair use. Taxis with access for wheelchairs are also found but should be booked in advance to be certain that one will be available.

If you are going to lease a car, then be careful and ask whether the rental company can provide you with the car installed with hand controls or other equipment. Also, most companies have a fleet of accessible vans for rental that offers a perfect and comfortable means of going round the city.

Know Your Rights at Tourist Attractions

Jumeirah is endowed with numerous attractions that are globally acclaimed and they include Burj Dubai, Dubai Mall among others. The good news is that it is possible to imagine that most of these attractive items are, in one way or the other, accessible to wheelchairs. It’s all about monitoring and having a schedule of events that are likely to occur in the course of the week.

For example, Burj Khalifa has provided elevators and ramps for wheelchair users and everybody can have wonderful views from the top. Likewise, the Dubai Mall ensures that there is enough space for the wheelchair users to navigate around easily including other features like ramps for wheelchair access, lift facilities for getting to the higher levels, disabled parking near entrances to buildings and disabled lavatories.

One should also consider reaching out to these attractions in an early stage to probably ask about any extra services for the disabled or any discounted prices. In some facilities, the fee may include a caregiver or companion to the patient, especially if the place is on the list of free admission in California.

Pack Essential Travel Gear

When traveling with a wheelchair then there is extra equipment that needs to be taken for a comfortable trip. If you are using an active wheelchair, then there is the necessity to take all the equipment which is needed for the chair maintenance; it can be pumps or repair kits. Such tools may prove very useful especially if one gets a flat tire or if the car develops some mechanical problems on the journey.

Moreover, never leave behind your prescribed medicines and relevant papers as a disability ID or a relevant doctor’s letter. It may come in handy if during your stay you require medical services or facilities.

Be Aware of Dubai’s Weather

It is on record that Dubai experiences extreme weather conditions hot most of the time; this may not be favorable to some visitors, especially those who are wheelchair-bound. Combined, heat, humidity, and wind cause stress on the skin, so you need to drink more water and try to arrange your day’s schedule to take advantage of cooler times of the day like early morning or in the evening.

In case you traveled during summer time, you need to ensure that your wheelchair is well covered with a canopy or cover from the hot sun. You might also wish to dress in light and airy attire and it would also be advisable to carry along with you sunblock.

Dubai’s weather is far less extreme than you would expect during the winter; however it is still advisable to carry something warm because nights are colder than during the day. Pack a small shawl or jacket to cover yourself with since depending on time, with the light from the moon or fire, it may be chilly at night.

Explore Accessible Beaches and Parks

The following are the list of parks that are wheelchair accessible for you to visit during your trip in Dubai; Both the Jumeirah Beach and the Kite Beach have provision of pathway with ramps and beach wheelchairs that are designed to cater the need of disabled to feel the sand beneath their wheels without any inconvenience.

If you’re up for a less strenuous walk, there are quite a number of parks in the city which include Safa Park, Zabeel Park where there are paved pathways, rest rooms that are wheelchair accessible and amenity areas where one can have a picnic. These places are perfect for taking some fresh air and have some time off from heavily crowded city life.

Take Advantage of Wheelchair-Friendly Tours

There are many tour operators in Dubai that provide tourist wheelchair friendly sightseeing to which can really help a lot. These tours ensure that the travelers with disability are provided with accessible vehicles as well as guides who are knowledgeable about the disability issues or the places that are well suited for the disabled travelers.

From the desert safari tours to Dubai Land water tours to the Shindagha water tour and the Dubai creek tours you can easily find a tour of your kind. The only thing that must be considered is to check the level of accessibility and if there will be a need for more accommodations that need to be booked.

Also Read: Dubai Desert Safari: A Must-Have Guide: Recommendations, Support, and High Season

Stay Connected with Local Support Services

Assisted services for the disabled tourist in Dubai embrace public transport, and medical help for the travelers in need of such. There are provisions for the disabled in most of the transport means in the city and most of the health facilities have special consideration for travelers with mobility impairment.

Furthermore, several nonprofit organizations in Dubai aim at offering people with disabilities information and assistance such as local organizations and support agencies. All of these resources can assist you if you face some issues on the trip that you plan.

Conclusion

Moving around Dubai in a wheelchair is not impossible, as there are numerous ways of traveling around the city if some conditions are taken into consideration. When it comes to experiencing a hotel, restaurants, tourism facilities, transportation and access to the outdoors the city has come a long way in being accommodating to those with mobility impairments. According to the tips above and proper preparation, one should be able to have a good and enjoyable trip.

Don’t forget that if you require any extra assistance, services like wheelchair rental Dubai are available to help make your travels more convenient.