Five DEWA centres receive the ‘Autism Friendly Environment’ certificate

Five Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) centres have received Autism Friendly Environment Certificates (AFC), internationally recognised by the Qualified Applied Behavior Analysis Credentialing Board (QABA) and granted by the Dubai Autism Center. This achievement followed the successful compliance of DEWA’s customer happiness centres at the Head Office, the Sustainable Building in Al Quoz, Ibn Battuta Mall, Burj Nahar and Al Twar Centre with all approved requirements and standards. The certifications were awarded following comprehensive assessments covering employee readiness, facility preparedness and the adaptation of services provided to People of Determination with autism, ensuring the provision of an inclusive and safe environment that accommodates their sensory and behavioural needs.

“We prioritise supporting People of Determination and providing an inclusive and safe environment across all our facilities to ensure their comfort and happiness, whether as customers or employees. This aligns with the National Policy for Empowering People of Determination, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which aims to create an inclusive society that ensures empowerment and a dignified life for People of Determination and their families. It also supports the ‘My Community… A City for Everyone’ initiative, launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, to transform Dubai into an accessible city for People of Determination,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA.

“Five DEWA centres obtaining the Autism Friendly Environment Certificates reaffirms our institutional approach to enhancing inclusivity and delivering services that meet the needs of all members of society, including People of Determination with autism. These certificates underscore our efforts to integrate universal design standards and implement global best practices across DEWA’s facilities and customer happiness centres, contributing to a humane urban environment that enables easy and convenient access to services for People of Determination. In addition, we provide specialised training programmes for employees to empower them to deliver a comprehensive service experience that meets the aspirations of all segments of society, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global hub for sustainability and social wellbeing,” Al Tayer added.

Mohammed Al Emadi, Director General of the Dubai Autism Center, expressed his appreciation for DEWA’s efforts and its commitment to enhancing service accessibility for People of Determination with autism across its facilities, ensuring an equitable and enriching experience that meets their needs in the same manner as others. He noted that this represents a pioneering step that contributes to setting new benchmarks for inclusive and sustainable environments, enabling People of Determination to actively participate in society.

“Through the Autism-Friendly Programme, launched in September 2022, the Dubai Autism Center continues to lead efforts to integrate People of Determination with autism into society by supporting accessibility and the full utilisation of services provided by public and private institutions. To date, 29 entities in Dubai have been accredited as autism-friendly, delivering a qualitative improvement in institutional readiness and service delivery that takes into account sensory and behavioural needs and enhances daily experiences across work, education and service environments,” Al Emadi added.

He further noted that certified entities are subject to an annual comprehensive evaluation process, which includes customer satisfaction surveys and field studies based on the mystery shopper approach, involving individuals with autism and their parents, to ensure sustained compliance with approved standards.

Autism is one of the most common developmental disorders, typically emerging within the first three years of a child’s life and continuing throughout their lifetime. Autism affects an individual’s communication and social interaction abilities, which may lead to social isolation. According to recent global studies, including a report issued by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), autism prevalence is estimated at one in every 31 children, with similar prevalence rates observed across most countries worldwide.