Universal Access · The mark
Three tiers of certification.
One mark, awarded at the level a place really reaches: meeting the law, working for everyone, or matching the best in Europe. Every tier is checked, time-bound and re-audited. None lasts forever, because accessibility is something you keep doing, not a plaque you keep.
The tiers
Awarded at the level a place actually reaches.
Tier I · Valid 3 years · annual self-declaration
Compliant
Meets the floor set by UAE law and codes, in every domain that applies.
Tier II · Valid 3 years · mid-term surveillance audit
Universal
Compliant, and shown to work for everyone, in real use.
Tier III · Gold · Valid 3 years · annual surveillance + re-audit
Design for All
Meets or beats European and international standards, with accessibility built into how the organisation works.
| Tier | What it takes | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Tier I · Compliant | Federal Law No. 29 of 2006 duties satisfied · Built form to the Dubai Universal Design Code · Digital to the TDRA Web Accessibility Policy (WCAG 2.1 AA) · Document review + baseline on-site verification | 3 years · annual self-declaration |
| Tier II · Universal | All Tier I requirements met · Scored against the 7 Principles across all 5 domains · Co-audit walkthrough with persons with disabilities · Continuous journey verified end-to-end | 3 years · mid-term surveillance audit |
| Tier III · Gold · Design for All | Built form to EN 17210, CEN/TR 17621 & ISO 21542 · Digital to EN 301 549 & WCAG 2.2 (AA, AAA where feasible) · Design for All process (EN 17161) demonstrated · Full independent audit + user panel + design review | 3 years · annual surveillance + re-audit |
The ladder
From first step to Gold.
- 00 · Registered / In AuditApplied, scoped and self-assessed, but not certified yet. Shown as 'in progress' on the registry.Provisional
- 01 · CompliantThe legal minimum, checked independently.Tier I
- 02 · UniversalWorks for everyone, and proven with users.Tier II
- 03 · Design for All · GoldEuropean and international standard. Our highest tier.Tier III
After certification
A mark that stays honest.
The public Access Registry
Every certified place is listed publicly, with its tier, domains, validity and audit date, so people can check before they set out whether it will work for them.
The mark
Certified places can show the Universal Access mark and tier at the entrance and online, linked to their registry record so anyone can check it.
Checks & renewal
We keep watching through the validity period, and the mark lapses if standards slip. A complaint about access can trigger a review at any time.
Who should certify
Any place, service or portal people rely on.
Building something new? An audit at design stage costs far less than fixing things after people move in. And it makes meeting the Dubai Universal Design Code straightforward from day one.
- Government offices and courts
- Hospitals and health centres
- Schools, colleges and universities
- Transport terminals
- Banks and consumer-service outlets
- Tourism and hospitality venues, places of worship
- Public parks and beaches, cultural and sports venues
- Any public-facing website, app or kiosk
Request an audit