Dubai Airports has appointed three disability advocates as strategic advisors to enhance accessibility at Dubai International Airport (DXB), reflecting the city’s growing focus on inclusive travel.

The newly announced advisory group includes Paralympian and disability inclusion consultant Jessica Smith, Emirati rights advocate Fatma Al Jassim, and the family-led foundation Team AngelWolf. Each brings lived experience and global recognition to guide airport accessibility improvements.

This move reflects a growing recognition that meaningful accessibility goes beyond infrastructure. It requires insight from those who navigate the world with different abilities. “True inclusion begins with listening,” said Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Airports. “By focusing our work on the lived experiences of our guests, we can challenge our own assumptions and co-create an airport experience that moves us closer to becoming the world’s most inclusive hub.”

Smith represented Australia at the 2004 Paralympic Games and now advises governments and organizations on inclusive design. Al Jassim is a leading voice for disability inclusion in the UAE. Team AngelWolf, known for inclusive athletic initiatives, has set multiple Guinness World Records in its efforts to normalize disability in everyday life.

The initiative builds on DXB’s wider inclusion strategy. The airport was the first in the world to earn the Certified Autism Center™ designation from IBCCES, with over 53,000 staff trained in supporting hidden disabilities. It also aligns with Dubai’s broader goal of becoming a disability-friendly city, recognized earlier this year as the first Certified Autism Destination in the Eastern Hemisphere.