Abu Dhabi expands Damj award nationwide to boost inclusion standards

The Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi (DCD) will showcase its unified national inclusion strategy at the AccessAbilities Expo 2026, scheduled for 19 to 21 October at the Dubai World Trade Centre. As a strategic partner for the event, the department plans to detail the expansion of its institutional inclusion awards and its urban planning framework for accessible cities. Damj Award to expand nationwide in 2027 A central feature of the DCD participation is the announcement that the second cycle of the “Damj” Award, also known as the Abu Dhabi Excellence Award for People of Determination Inclusion, will expand to include organisations from all emirates in 2027. The first cycle of the award received over 370 submissions and recognised 10 winning entities for embedding inclusion into their institutional policies. Talal Fares, Acting Executive Director of the Social Inclusion Sector at DCD, stated that the department is working to establish an integrated ecosystem that connects policies with participation opportunities at every life stage. During the three-day expo, DCD officials will hold information sessions to brief national organisations on the 2027 participation criteria and sponsorship opportunities. Yas Island to lead urban accessibility trial The DCD will also provide updates on the Disability Friendly Cities & Communities Framework, a technical guide designed to connect urban planning with social requirements. Under an existing agreement…