More style over substance or less than the sum total of its parts
3
3
Date of visit: November 2021
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Average
We were strangely undewhelmed by the experience particularly in the current climate of Covid and global warming, it was a huge exhibition with the pavilions from all over the globe. People over 60 and those with disabilities referred to as people with determination can go free and carers get a discount. The worst of all of the pavilions was the Netherlands one because the floor surface was hardly wheelchair friendly. I have no idea who advised them on the suitability of this, which appeared to be rocks covered in wire netting, though to be fair one of the attendants helped push me. When I was at that pavilion there was a lady using a mobility scooter also having difficulty navigating the floor surface. There were wheelchair accessible buses in abundance from the car parks so that wasn't an issue. You couldn't get access to the site without evidence of vaccination so I'm not sure have rigorous this was because we were waved through as I couldn't get hold of my NHS app on line. There were crowds on the day I attended and long queues which given the pandemic we weren't very happy about there but we were waved through so avoided many. I'm sure techies would be very impressed by some of the special effects in the pavilions and of course the buzz word was sustainability. Though I would've thought the acreage of concrete and new roads didn't do the planet much good. We could not get into the Singapore pavilion because of long queues which gave emphasis on greening cities in the sky. If you have a few hours to spare, It's probably worth going if you don't mind crowds. I can't say I'd recommend it to anybody visiting Dubai as there are plenty of other places that you can go which is just as impressive. There were lots of places selling food and drink although surprisingly none of the pavilions belonging to the countries represented were giving out samples as a showcase of their specialities.
Disabled Access In and Around
Excellent
Plenty of signage and free buses from the car park.It is a huge site so if you need assistance with your wheelchair it's a long journey for either you or your carer. I have no idea whether there was different formats for communicating eg Braille and induction loops. I would not recommend it to anyone with a degree of mobility problems who are not using a wheelchair. However Wheelchairs are loaned at the site
Parking & Transport
Excellent
I believe that a Metro train went there to the site which is quite a few kilometres from Dubai central, if you didn't have your own transport and there are always plenty of taxis There are huge car park surrounding with free buses to the venue.
Accessible Toilets
Excellent
Dubai is quite geared up to disabilities and the toilets were fine but I don't think there was a changing room toilet. The loo I visited was clean and there was sufficient space with grab rails. Paper toilets and soap dispensers provided
Staff
Excellent
All very friendly and helpful.
Additional Information
In Dubai everyone still wears masks and were required to give evidence of vaccinations but not PCR test. And of course there are social distancing which is difficult to maintain with crowds and queues. I believe that a Metro train from central Dubai went there if you didn't have your own transport and there are plenty of taxes, some of the crowded parts of the site may put people off visiting.
