Emirates is making it easier than ever for People of Determination (PoD) to travel comfortably and independently, with a suite of innovations launched at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and onboard its aircraft.

Unveiled at the AccessAbilities Expo 2025 in Dubai, the airline’s initiatives include dual-height Smart Tunnel cameras for faster immigration, voice-guided self-service check-in kiosks, a redesigned business class mattress for passengers with mobility challenges, and new sensory products to support neurodiverse flyers.

These enhancements aim to remove long-standing barriers in the travel experience, from check-in and boarding to in-flight comfort, while also benefiting all passengers with faster processing times and more seamless journeys.

Faster immigration for all

The airline has upgraded its Smart Tunnel system at Terminal 3 with dual-height facial recognition cameras, making it accessible for wheelchair users and children for the first time.

“The cameras are not only up there, but also down here, for kids or passengers in wheelchairs. It makes the process way faster than before,” an Emirates spokesperson said.

Passengers can now pass through immigration in seconds without showing physical documents, as the system matches live facial images with stored records.

Voice-activated self-service

Emirates’ new self-check-in kiosks feature a Braille-enabled navigation bar, voice assistance, and ultra-sensitive touch technology that responds to the lightest tap, ensuring accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility or visual impairments.

The kiosks also use enhanced colour contrast and display settings to aid passengers with colour-blindness, benefitting all travellers by speeding up the check-in process.

Smoother in-flight comfort

Business class passengers will enjoy a redesigned hooded mattress that secures to the seat back like a fitted sheet, eliminating the need to remove it during takeoff and landing.

“If you don’t have properly working legs, it used to be difficult. Now, passengers can keep the mattress in place throughout the flight, even during landing,” the spokesperson explained.

The feature allows for uninterrupted comfort on long-haul flights, with plans to extend it to economy class in the future.

Digital travel assistance hub

Emirates’ new Accessible and Inclusive Travel Hub on emirates.com offers a one-stop resource for planning trips according to individual needs.

Passengers can search by type of disability, journey stage, or specific requirement to find relevant information on wheelchair assistance, priority boarding, specialised seating, support for service animals, and more.

Sensory products and fidget toys

From November 1, Emirates will introduce a range of sensory products and fidget toys — including a tactile aircraft-shaped stress reliever, two types of fidget cubes, and a branded aircraft popper.

These items will be provided to neurodiverse passengers, nervous flyers, or anyone feeling overstimulated on board, helping them stay calm and comfortable.