the World Federation of the Disabled. The Committee gave the Emirate three years to make the necessary adjustments and changes. Based on the Emirate’s commitment to all necessary criteria, the Committee decided to grant Sharjah the coveted title of the ‘Accessible City for the Physically Disabled.’

Steps Towards Empowerment

As part of its efforts to make itself a city that is friendly and accessible to the disabled people, Sharjah equipped itself with all necessary infrastructure that is necessary and friendly to the disabled.
Sharjah’s case was presented during a meeting at the headquarters in Turkey in the presence of the President of the World Federation of the Disabled.
A visit by the Evaluation Committee comprising a number of experts with diverse specialisations from various countries in the field of people with disabilitieswas scheduled.

The Evaluation Committee was received in Sharjah and it undertook intensive field visits to a number of government departments, shopping centres, museums, sports clubs, airport, public transport and leisure destinations.

In the course of day-to-day meetings with concerned officials, the members of the Evaluation Committee expressed their admiration for the services provided to people with disabilities (slopes, baths, corridors, elevators and offices) in Sharjah and more importantly, the society's awareness of all aspects of disability.

Sharjah has been offering its services to the disabled, especially in transport sector, for the past 38 years. Over the years, regardless of the title, it has worked to achieve highest international standards on this count. However, since the opening of the regional office of the World Federation of the Disabled in Sharjah in