The General Secretariat of The Executive Council of Dubai, under patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Chairman of the Higher Committee for Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, announces the “Dubai Inclusive Development Forum” which will take place on the 11th and 12th of October, 2015. 

The official announcement will be made in a press conference on Monday, October 5, between 10AM -12PM at the Dubai’s Emirates Tower, Godolphin Ballroom. The speakers at the conference will be H.E. Abdullah Abdulrahman Al Shaibani, Secretary General and Vice President of The Executive Council, Dr. Salem Ali AlShafiei , Director of Policies and Programs, Rights of People with Disabilities at The Executive Council, H.E. Khaled Al Kamda, Director General of the Community Development Authority (CDA) and Mr. Majid Al-Osaimi, the Representative of the Persons with Disabilities at The Higher Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

The Dubai Inclusive Development Forum is part of the “My community” initiative, launched in November, 2013 under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.  “My Community” is meant to unite governmental and non-governmental efforts in turning Dubai into a disability-friendly city by the year 2020. Led by The Executive Council of Dubai, the aim of the initiative is to promote, protect and ensure the self-determination of persons with disabilities and to integrate them better into society. The dedication and support of all government entities is shaping Dubai’s global role in empowering the rights of persons with disabilities thus becoming a leading example to the world.

As a signatory of the United Nations International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has since been devoted to promoting and protecting the rights of all its residents, including persons with disabilities. “My Community” is inclusive of all disabilities, including physical, mental, intellectual and sensory, and stresses on promoting equal opportunities in the community.