Emirates NBD ENBD), a leading bank in the region, has converted 40 per cent of its branch network in the UAE into disability-friendly branches so far under #TogetherLimitless, its flagship advocacy platform for people with disabilities, a report said.

In addition to making the facilities physically accessible to people with different types of disabilities, the bank trains employees in each of these branches on disability etiquette and understanding sign language, the bank said in a recent whitepaper.

The whitepaper highlights vanguards in the country’s service sector that are innovating to facilitate the inclusion of people of determination as proactive and valued participants in the economy and society.

With 15 per cent of the global population suffering from some form of disability according to the World Health Organisation, the business case for disability inclusion is strong. According to the white paper, companies have substantial scope to expand their bottom line and enhance profitability through the introduction of diversified services. As Dubai sets its sights on becoming a disability-friendly city by 2020, the increased focus on programmes, policies, and investments in people of determination is motivated by both national agendas and economic gains.

The UAE is already making notable progress in the inclusion of people of determination, Emirates NBD’s white paper shows. Major public and private organisations including The Dubai Government Excellence Program, The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), Careem, du, and Wild Wadi by Jumeirah Group have fostered the shift in attitude towards the inclusion of customers with disabilities.

Husam Al Sayed, Group chief human resource officer, Emirates NBD commented, “Over the past few years, Emirates NBD has worked tirelessly to advance the rights of people of determination in the UAE, from transforming our branches to be disability-friendly, to offering specialised banking services and assistive solutions that support financial inclusion.

“We firmly believe that the integration of people with disabilities makes business sense in addition to positively impacting talent resourcing and social responsibility. We hope the release of this white paper enables the UAE’s service sector to better serve people of determination and provides further understanding of this untapped market.”

Emirates NBD’s whitepaper also outlines recommendations and available resources for UAE organisations looking to be more inclusive. While disclosure and available data remains fairly limited, a2013 social survey by the Community Development Authority (CDA) classifies 3.5 per cent of Dubai’s population as having disabilities, with visual impairment (32 per cent), speech difficulties (21 per cent) and hearing difficulties (14 per cent) among the top three types of disabilities reported nationally. – TradeArabia News Service