National accessibility guidance
The UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) commissioned guidance to help federal entities and their suppliers implement digital accessibility requirements.
AxessAll authored the UAE A11y Code in Arabic and English, supporting implementation of the National Digital Accessibility Policy. It translates accessibility requirements into guidance for the platforms used to deliver public services.
Platforms covered
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.
Testable requirements
Teams need a shared basis for designing, implementing and evaluating accessibility. The Code expresses requirements as platform-specific, testable specifications.
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.
WCAG 2.2 in Arabic
Alongside the Code, 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 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 accessibility assessment, inclusive design, document accessibility and governance. 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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