DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, April 20/APO Group: Emirates has reiterated its commitment to boost travel accessibility for all by successfully arranging bespoke Emirates Travel Rehearsals across more than 40 cities globally over the past year.
With more than 250 families positively impacted, Emirates Travel Rehearsals are designed to support children and young adults with autism, allowing them to practice the journey through the airport to prepare for real flights – easing travel anxiety and empowering them to fly with more confidence.
After the initial Emirates Travel Rehearsals in Dubai resulted in positive feedback from families, schools, and autism organisations, the Emirates Office of Accessibility & Inclusion formulated the travel rehearsal. The official programme is set to be rolled out across its global network, where more than 35,000 Emirates staff have been trained to support customers with autism and can help facilitate travel, and Travel Rehearsals.
Since April 2025, Emirates’ Airport Services teams have come together to arrange more than 40 of travel rehearsals across airports such as Accra, Athens, Bali, Bangalore, Barcelona, Bologna, Brussels, Delhi, Dubai, Durban, Hong Kong, Istanbul, London, Mauritius, Milan, Newcastle, Paris, Peshawar, Stansted, Stockholm, Sydney, Toronto, Trivandrum, Venice and Vienna, among others
Senior Vice President, Emirates Airport Services Outstation & Business Support, Sami Aqil Abdullah, commented: “The Emirates Travel Rehearsal programme has been a resounding success across 6 continents, with impressive collaboration and drive shown by all stakeholders, from our own Emirates teams to our airport partners, and the parents and teachers who trusted us to support their children. We will continue to amplify this success with more locations, more teams involved, and more families positively impacted and empowered to fly with confidence.“
According to a survey on AutismTravel.com, 78 percent of families are hesitant to travel or visit new locations for these reasons. For many people with autism, planning and predictability are critical – and an airport represents a world of unknown processes and stimuli.
Emirates Travel Rehearsals are defined as a purposeful community collaboration and learning exercise arranged by Emirates, with the support of international airport teams, Border Control and Security teams, and schools and centres for autism based all around the world. The travel rehearsals empower neurodivergent people to participate in a real-time journey through the airport, practicing the actions of checking in, dropping baggage, going through immigration and security, while experiencing the hustle and bustle of retail and dining areas.
Now, on an international level – parents, therapists, teachers, young adults, and children involved in the travel rehearsals so far have reported to Emirates that the experience has been invaluable in helping them have a safe and successful flight, by offering the comfort of preparation and familiarity, as well as trained staff to support.
“The relief experienced when institutions like Emirates have considered children with neurological differences in their operational strategies! To know a parent is welcomed with massive support during travels is such a beautiful feeling. It’s like a road to freedom for my child.” This is according to an Autism Center founder and parent, Accra.
“Now I am not afraid anymore! Maybe we can fly again next year. Before it was terrible. But now I can leave my fears somewhere else,” says Noah in Dusseldorf, 13 years old.
