Dubai Municipality has introduced NaviLens, a smart system that helps visually impaired people find their way around public spaces. It is the first government body in the UAE to use the technology. The system is on show at the eighth AccessAbilities Expo 2026, held at Dubai World Trade Centre from October 19 to 21.
NaviLens uses colored markers that a smartphone camera can pick up. Once the camera spots a marker, the phone gives audio and text guidance. Users can learn where they are and get useful details without asking others for help. The system works in more than 35 languages, so both residents and visitors can use it.
The municipality is also showing upgrades at its beaches, including Jumeirah Beach 2 and Khor Al Mamzar. These include sea swimming platforms, 10 accessible entrances and paths to the water, and parking spaces set aside across its beaches. There are also 16 accessible restrooms.
People with disabilities can use floating wheelchairs and special beach wheelchairs. Parks and beaches have sensory rooms too, including one at Jumeirah Beach 2. The World Disability Union has given that beach a Gold Classification for its accessible facilities.
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The municipality is promoting its Inclusion Coordinators Program. It trains people to support colleagues with disabilities at work. Its Access Ambassadors initiative asks community members to learn about accessibility rules under the Dubai Building Code and suggest practical fixes.
During the expo, the municipality signed a cooperation agreement with the Emirates Down Syndrome Association. The two sides plan to make public facilities, services, and community programs more inclusive. They will also use expert knowledge and feedback from users to test accessibility solutions.
Dubai has already made its mark in this area. In 2023, it set a Guinness World Record for the world's longest Braille handrail. The handrail is 319.11 meters long and sits at Dubai Frame. With NaviLens and its other projects, the municipality aims to make public spaces safer and easier for everyone to use.