Well, this is pretty cool…

The Dubai government is installing new signs on seven of the city’s beaches that address those with physical disabilities in a fresh way.

Most signs read ‘disability access’, pointing out ramps that can be easily traversed by those in wheelchairs or on crutches, but the new Dubai signs read ‘beach access for people of determination’.

Where will you find these signs? At Al Mamzar Beach Park, Al Mamzar Corniche, Jumeirah 3 and Umm Suqeim 1 and 2.

 

The idea for the change of terminology came from the ruler of Dubai himself, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who said recently that he would like people with disabilities in Dubai to be referred to as people of determination.

(Remember, the phrase change was made in Arabic first, and so works well in that language too.)

Dubai hopes to be totally disability friendly by 2020.

Alia Al Harmoudi, director of environment department at the Dubai Municipality, has said that these signs will pop up on more and more Dubai beaches throughout the year.

“As active members of society, people of determination deserve to be provided with the facilities that increase their access to services. This step is just the beginning,” she said of the increasing number of ramps and accessible pathways to lead to the city’s free beaches and parks.

Remember, Sheikh Mohammed recently said that the UAE needs to become a more “inclusive society”. As part of that, Dubai hopes to become a holistically disability-friendly city by 2020: you can read all about how they plan to do that here.

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Photos: Getty/Twitter.com/luayprince