Inclusive Service is an online video-based training programme developed as the second phase of the ‘Dubai Way’ initiative which was launched in 2017 by DCT for professionals who interact with visitors on a daily basis. As part of Dubai’s vision to be ‘a city for everyone’, the virtual training course highlights the role of empathy and the importance of offering the highest standards of hospitality to all visitors, reflecting a truly inclusive society.

The programme will enable the emirate to create a setting that is universally welcoming across all touch points. Aimed at fostering the awareness of different disabilities, the programme will also educate students on common misconceptions and oversights, helping to serve guests with disabilities more effectively and in the most sensitive manner.

Essa Bin Hadher, general manager, Dubai College of Tourism, said: “The ‘Dubai Way’ initiative was launched with a clear purpose of training people in tourist-facing roles to deliver exceptional customer service to all visitors. In keeping with our promise of providing a world-class tourism experience, we have a responsibility towards treating all visitors equally and the Inclusive Service programme places great emphasis on diversity and inclusion, ensuring a high level of customer care is incorporated into all guest interaction. The training programme teaches the importance of empathy and how to better understand disability, thus making it instinctive. As we continue to strive towards excellence in all aspects of our tourism offering, this new initiative will help further raise the bar in Dubai’s hospitality sector through our focus on creating significant impact and increased satisfaction levels for all our visitors.”

The new DCT programme will utilise an array of assets including videos, real-life stories, activities and assessments to equip learners with the skills needed to handle challenging service scenarios. It will also teach the difference between an impairment and disability, define various types of impairment and the challenges associated with each of them, as well as teaching participants the knowledge and skills that will help provide the best customer support to people of determination.