Driving for the disabled or people with special needs in Dubai

The Dubai government is very considerate towards people with special needs. They have taken measures to ensure that the physically challenged people find it easy to travel within Dubai.

Physically challenged people or people with special needs need to get stickers on their cars to avail the facilities provided by RTA. This provision is available, free of cost, to citizens, residents and tourists eligible to apply to the RTA.

Facilities provided

• Special parking slots- The Dubai Government has reserved parking spaces exclusively for the differently abled people. These spaces are located closest to the buildings.
• Ramps to aid in moving from the road to the building. Using the ramps, the physically challenged groups find it easier to enter a building.
• Elevators in Metro stations and special seating areas on trains
• Most buses have arrangements to carry passengers in wheelchairs
• Special needs taxis (wheelchair accessible passenger vans) which can be booked in advance by calling Dubai Taxi Corporation Dispatch Center Tel: 04 208 0808
• Toilets and ticket booths designed for those with special needs

Different types of stickers

There are four different stickers available for the use of disabled people. These stickers help to point out to fellow drivers and others that the car bearing the sticker is to be given special consideration. It also helps in getting allotted spaces in parking areas.

Type	Condition	Validity
Blue Card	Permanent disability	Three years
Red Card	Temporary disability	One to six months
Green Card	Transporting disabled people (for vehicles belonging to special needs organizations)	One year
Yellow Card	Visitors and tourists with disabilities	Length of visit in UAE

Procedure followed to get the special parking permit.

• The person applying should, in person, submit an attested medical report, obtained from Rashid hospital, at the Front desk of the RTA Deira Traffic Department (Al Ittihad Branch). This will help the RTA authorities to determine the kind of disability.

• Along with the medical report, the driving license of the car owner (first degree relative/the applicant) and the car registration documents are also to be submitted.

• After the verification of documents at the Front desk, the person will be directed to the Driver’s Licensing manager, Director of Licensing Department and Assistant Director.   

• Once they are convinced that the identity and documents of the applicant are genuine, the suitable card will be issued by a data entry officer.

• Tourists and visitors must get their medical reports attested by their own embassy/consulate before submission to the RTA.

Opening hours of RTA Deira Traffic Department (Al Ittihad Branch) are 7.30 am to 2.30 pm

If the disabled person is willing to drive his/her own car, it is now possible to obtain a driver’s license. There are specially designed courses for disabled people at the Emirates Driving Institute, from where they can get their own license. Once they get the license, they can go to the RTA office and apply for the special parking permit.

In order to help disabled drivers, Emirates Driving Institute (EDI), along with RTA, Rashid Hospital, Arabian Automobiles Nissan and a leading Swedish company, has taken steps to initiate the first Disabled Driver Training Programme in Dubai  

Swedish experts Swed Adaptations, (otherwise known as Anpassarna), who have 40 years of experience in adapting vehicles for the physically disabled have joined the EDI in adapting two of their vehicles to suit the disabled drivers’ needs.

For further information on the new initiative, please visit http://www.ameinfo.com/191768.html
 

Using the Metro is an alternative to driving your own car. The Metro is disabled friendly and provides some of the best facilities like

• Braille
• Tactile guidance paths,
• Lifts, ramps, and specially designated spaces for wheelchairs.

For further reading and information, please check out the following link;

http://www.rta.ae/wpsv5/wps/portal/DNH

RTA Call centre number for any aid : 8009090

Please visit Special needs services at Dubai Airport , if you would be visiting the airport.