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Time Out Abu Dhabi
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
There's a brand-new beach for visually impaired people in Abu Dhabi
Corniche just got more inclusive – and it's making waves for all the right reasons. Abu Dhabi has unveiled a dedicated beach space designed for people with visual impairments, marking a major milestone in the city's ongoing push to make public spaces more accessible to everyone. Located near Gate 3 of the Corniche, the 1,000-square-metre beach is the result of a collaboration between Abu Dhabi City Municipality and the Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination. This stretch of sand has been purpose-built with thoughtful, practical features to ensure that beach days are fun, safe, and empowering. So, what can you expect? The beach is free for visually impaired visitors (and one guest), and comes kitted out with: A dedicated vehicle service to get visitors to the beach with ease Paved walkways with tactile tiles to guide the way Braille signage explaining how to navigate the area A rope-guided, bell-equipped pathway to the water A designated, lifeguard-supervised swimming zone A Braille service guide covering all the beach essentials There are also accessible walkways, floating wheelchairs, dedicated toilets, drinking water stations, and free transport services for people with disabilities and senior citizens. Oh, and yes – there's a licensed nurse on-site during opening hours, just in case. Open daily from 6am to midnight (with swimming allowed until sunset), the beach has quickly become a symbol of how urban planning can be equal parts functional and inclusive. And that's not the only good news. This launch follows December's announcement that solar-powered Seatrac ramps – motorised beach chairs that help people with mobility impairments get in and out of the sea independently – will be rolling out across Corniche Public Beach, Al Bateen Beach, and more. Open daily 6am-midnight. Corniche, Gate 3. More things to do in Abu Dhabi Everything happening in Abu Dhabi in 2025 From new openings to big events, this is shaping up to be quite a year It's official: Abu Dhabi Comedy Season is returning for a second edition with some huge names Wow, look at this line-up The 2025 concert line-up in Abu Dhabi just keeps getting better and better So many big names coming to the capital
The National
18-04-2025
- General
- The National
Abu Dhabi opens beach for people with visual impairments
Abu Dhabi has opened a beach designed for people with visual impairments as part of a major government drive to broaden access to public spaces and champion inclusivity. Abu Dhabi City Municipality joined forces with the Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination to develop the 1,000-square metre beach, located near the Gate 3 area of the Corniche. Authorities on Friday said the beach had been 'designated exclusively for the visually impaired, offering a safe and enjoyable environment with comprehensive security, safety, and entertainment facilities'. The beach – which is free for visually impaired visitors and one guest – includes a variety of facilities set up to cater to the needs of people with visual impairments, allowing them to enjoy a day out at the beach while maintaining their independence. Abu Dhabi City Municipality has ensured that the designated swimming and leisure area on the Corniche includes tailored services designed specifically for the visually impaired. These include: • A dedicated vehicle service for People of Determination to facilitate transportation to the beach. • Paved guidance pathways with specialised tactile tiles extending along the walkway. • An instructional Braille signboard detailing the proper use of the swimming area. • A fenced pathway equipped with a guiding rope and alert bells at both ends emitting sound cues to direct users to the swimming area. • A designated swimming zone supervised by a trained lifeguard to ensure safety. • A Braille service guide providing comprehensive details to ensure a seamless experience for visually impaired visitors of all ages. The leisure space also features accessible walkways for people with disabilities and the elderly, dedicated restrooms for those with disabilities, floating wheelchairs designed for access to the waters, complementary drinking water stations, free transportation services for people with disabilities and senior citizens and designated parking spaces. The beach is open from 6am until midnight each day, with swimming permitted from 6am until sunset. A licensed nurse is also available on-site throughout the beach's operating hours to provide first aid assistance, if required. In December 2023, the Department of Municipalities and Transport teamed up with Mubadala, the emirate's strategic investment arm, to put in place remote control-operated ramps that allow people with disabilities to enjoy the waters independently. Solar-powered tracks – designed by Greek company Seatrac – are fitted with a chair which transports users from the sands to the sea. Beach-goers can use the rails of the ramp to lower themselves into the sea and to lift themselves back into the chair. The Seatrac system will be launched at Corniche Public Beach, Corniche Family Beach, Corniche Sahil Beach, Al Bateen Public Beach and Al Bateen Ladies' Beach.
