Dubai’s Higher Committee for the Protection of the Rights of People of Determination has approved the ‘Dubai Sign Language Pledge for Deafness and Hearing Impairment’, to be overseen by the Community Development Authority (CDA).
The pledge was launched to coincide with Arab Deaf Week, with the participation of several government entities.
The initiative aligns with the ‘Dubai Social Agenda 33’ and Dubai’s Strategy for People of Determination.
Emirati sign language recognised as independent language under new Dubai pledge
The pledge recognises Emirati Sign Language as an independent language with cultural and linguistic value. It establishes a framework for regulatory structures and institutional practices, centred on inclusive communication, human dignity, institutional accountability, and the implementation of relevant legislation.
“The ‘Dubai Communicates in Sign Language’ pledge represents an integrated framework that translates our institutional commitment to ensuring the right to communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. It enhances the readiness of entities to deliver inclusive services based on innovation and efficiency, and reflects the integration of roles across entities in transforming strategic directions into effective practices that achieve tangible impact on quality of life,” Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai (CDA) said in a statement.
“Empowering communication through Emirati Sign Language is a key pillar in strengthening independence and social participation. Through this pledge, we continue to develop a flexible service environment that responds to the needs of all segments of society, in line with Dubai’s future aspirations and reinforces its position as a city friendly to People of Determination,” she added.
Government entities that have signed the pledge are committed to ensuring the availability of sign language and communication methods across all services.
This includes providing interpretation in interactions, developing digital channels, training frontline employees, involving People of Determination in service design, and adopting mechanisms to request interpreters and ensure their competence.
In the healthcare and emergency sector, the pledge provides sign language interpretation across all stages of diagnosis, treatment, and emergency cases. It ensures comprehension prior to medical consent, includes training for healthcare professionals, provides visual awareness materials, ensures privacy protection, and commits to reviews of communication quality.
In education, the pledge ensures the availability of sign language across all stages – from enrolment to assessment. It supports the creation of a learning environment through training for educational staff and the development of programmes in interpretation.
It promotes bilingual education, enables deaf students to contribute to educational frameworks, and establishes a central registry for certified sign language interpreters.
Rehabilitation and protection services in sign language are also included, alongside community-based initiatives.
In the security sector, the pledge ensures access to information by providing interpretation in reports, investigations, and emergency communications, alongside training for security personnel.
On employment, the pledge commits to the creation of work environments for training and career development without discrimination, and the integration of sign language interpreter roles within institutional structures.
For transport, the pledge includes the provision of visual screens and guidance in transport facilities and enables communication in stations and on public transport to ensure safety and continuity of access to information.
Ten government entities participated in the pledge: the Community Development Authority (CDA), the Dubai Health Authority (Dubai Health), the Dubai Academic Health Corporation, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the Dubai Government Human Resources Department, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Sports Council, and Dubai Club for People of Determination.
