DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Dubai will host the eighth edition of the AccessAbilities Expo in October, bringing together global companies and organizations focused on technology for people of determination.
The event is scheduled for Oct. 19 to 21 at Dubai World Trade Centre and will feature 300 exhibitors from 50 countries. Organizers say this year’s edition will put artificial intelligence-powered assistive technology at the center of the show.
The expo will present a wide range of products aimed at improving mobility, communication and independent living. Among the innovations expected are smart glasses with cameras that can describe surroundings and provide voice guidance, speech recognition systems that adapt to speech disorders and intelligent prosthetics designed to support autonomous movement.
Access to assistive technology remains a major global challenge. The World Health Organization has said nearly 90% of people who need such tools do not have them, largely because of cost and limited availability.
Organizers say the event is meant to bridge that gap by bringing together government bodies, innovators, health-care providers, schools, international groups and private companies. The goal is to share ideas, present new solutions and build partnerships that support inclusion.
Ghassan Suleiman, chief executive of Nadd Al Shiba PR & Event Management, which organizes the expo, said assistive technologies give people of determination greater confidence and independence. He said the event remains important because access to these tools is still limited in many parts of the world.
The expo is held under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group. It has become the largest dedicated event for people of determination in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia region.
Organizers expect more than 18,000 visitors from over 70 countries this year. The expo comes amid rapid growth in the global assistive technology market, which is projected to expand sharply over the next decade.
