Yas Mall has become the first shopping mall in the region to meet the requirements of the global Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme, marking a step to improve support for visitors with non-visible disabilities.
The programme has been introduced through collaboration between Aldar, the Zayed Authority for People of Determination, and Topland. It has been integrated into customer service operations at Yas Mall to improve accessibility and awareness across the retail destination.
All customer-facing staff at the mall have received training to recognise the sunflower lanyard and provide appropriate assistance to visitors who may need additional support.
Staff training standards
The initiative follows international standards that require structured staff training and full operational integration. The programme is designed to ensure that accessibility is part of daily customer service processes rather than a separate service layer.
As part of the rollout, Aldar commissioned 10,000 sunflower lanyards produced by People of Determination at the Zayed Authority’s printing workshop. These will be distributed across Aldar’s destinations.
Inclusion goals
Yas Mall’s certification supports Yas Island’s wider goal of becoming an inclusive city and aligns with ongoing efforts led by the Department of Community Development to improve accessibility across public spaces.
Salwa Al Maflahi, Executive Director of Sustainability and Community Outreach at Aldar, said, “The introduction of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme reflects our commitment to creating environments where everyone feels welcomed and supported.”
Abdulla Ismail Al Kamali, Executive Director for People of Determination Sector at the Zayed Authority, said the initiative strengthens Abu Dhabi’s position as an inclusive city and supports efforts to enhance quality of life and empowerment.
He added that the authority will continue expanding the initiative across the emirate in collaboration with partners to promote awareness and inclusion.
Andy Faulkner, CEO of Topland Group, said the programme enhances inclusivity while supporting People of Determination through the production of sunflower lanyards.
The initiative highlights growing efforts to improve awareness of non-visible disabilities in public spaces, where many conditions are not immediately identifiable but still require support and understanding.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
