Museums in Dubai Quietly Help Visitors Signal When They Need Extra Support

Visitors to Al Shindagha Museum and Etihad Museum in Dubai can now wear a small sunflower pin to signal, quietly and without explanation, that they need a little extra support. The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme, newly introduced at both institutions, gives people with non-visible conditions a discreet way to communicate their needs to staff without any public disclosure of their circumstances.

The conditions the programme covers are wide-ranging: autism, chronic pain, anxiety, and memory impairments, among others. Sunflower pins are available at visitor centres, information desks, and ticketing counters at both museums. Staff at each site have been trained to recognise the pins and respond with quiet, respectful assistance.

This is the first time a cultural institution in Dubai has adopted the internationally recognised initiative. Dr Hana Ayoub, Promotions Section Manager within Dubai Culture’s Sales Department, described the rollout as a reflection of the authority’s commitment to building welcoming spaces where all community members can engage with cultural experiences on equal terms. She added that the programme extends existing accessibility work already underway across the emirate’s heritage sites.

By contrast, the Sunflower scheme is not a standalone gesture. It sits within Dubai’s broader Quality of Life Strategy and the My Community…A Place for Everyone initiative, both of which aim to strengthen the emirate’s standing as an inclusive destination for People of Determination. The two museums now serve as working examples of how international best practices in accessibility can take root inside Dubai’s cultural sector.

Dubai Culture has previously received Autism-Friendly Certification accreditations from the Dubai Autism Center for its cultural facilities, building a track record of support for visitors with autism and related conditions. The Sunflower programme extends that commitment further, reaching a wider range of non-visible disabilities and creating a more comprehensive framework for inclusive museum visits.

What changed most practically is the experience of navigating a public space while managing an invisible condition. Visitor services teams at both Al Shindagha Museum and Etihad Museum are now trained to provide the additional assistance that Sunflower wearers may need, allowing visitors to move through the museums without the stress that can accompany asking for help in a crowded, unfamiliar setting.

Whether other cultural institutions across Dubai will follow the lead of these two museums remains an open question.