Policy framework and roadmap
The UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) commissioned AxessAll to develop the Digital Accessibility Policy Framework and Implementation Roadmap. The framework helps federal entities, and the suppliers who build their services, implement the National Digital Accessibility Policy.
It connects the policy’s requirements with the standards, guidance and tools teams need to apply them, and the roadmap plans that implementation. Three resources developed within the project support it: the UAE A11y Code, an Arabic translation of WCAG 2.2 and A11y Lens.
Framework resources
UAE A11y Code
Bilingual, testable accessibility requirements for the platforms federal entities use to deliver public services.
WCAG 2.2 in Arabic
An unofficial Arabic translation that helps Arabic-speaking teams understand and apply the success criteria.
A11y Lens
A widget that checks federal websites against WCAG 2.2 Level AA and links findings to the Code’s guidance.
The UAE A11y Code
Within the framework, AxessAll authored the Code in Arabic and English. It expresses requirements as platform-specific, testable specifications, giving delivery teams, suppliers and assessors a shared basis for designing, implementing and evaluating accessibility.
It distinguishes what must be done to conform, what should be done and preferred practices. This structure supports consistent interpretation across delivery teams, suppliers and assessors.
Platforms the Code covers
Responsive web
Websites and hybrid applications, covering content structure, information architecture and localisation.
Native mobile
iOS and Android applications, with requirements expressed for each platform’s implementation.
Electronic documents
PDF and Office documents, including reading order, semantic structure and assistive technology support.
Self-service terminals
Kiosks and cash machines, connecting physical access with on-screen interaction.
Audio, video and digital content are addressed within each platform’s guidance, so teams can find the requirements relevant to their work.
WCAG 2.2 in Arabic
Within the framework, we produced an unofficial Arabic translation of WCAG 2.2 to help Arabic-speaking teams understand and apply the criteria. It is not a W3C-authorised translation.
The translation prioritises technical accuracy and readable language, with review by translators experienced in accessibility and technical documentation.
The published presentation uses the UAE Design System, aligning the resource with the national digital platform.
A11y Lens
A11y Lens supports implementation of the framework within federal entities’ websites. It checks pages against WCAG 2.2 Level AA criteria and connects findings to relevant Code guidance. Scores feed the national dashboard, while entities retain responsibility for addressing findings.
The widget supports Arabic and English and was developed to conform to WCAG 2.2 Level AA. Automated findings support assessment; they do not establish full conformance on their own.
The client experience
Throughout our engagement, the team demonstrated strong commitment, responsiveness, and technical competency in supporting TDRA’s requirements … Their contribution supported the initiative’s progress and the achievement of its intended outcomes.
Expertise applied
The engagement combined governance, accessibility assessment, inclusive design and document accessibility. Together, these disciplines connect technical requirements with the processes needed to apply them.
Our Arabic A11y expertise supported the guidance and translation throughout, helping teams work from clear, consistent requirements in both languages.
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