Before
After
How Flex Access installed indoor and outdoor tactile wayfinding at AG Cars Vehicle Testing Centre, Dubai, giving blind and visually impaired visitors a safe, guided route to the Customer Happiness Center.
CLIENT PROFILE
AG Cars Vehicle Testing Centre (Licensed by RTA)
LOCATION
Dubai
ESTABLISHED YEAR
September 2026
FISCAL ENVELOPE
A compliance-ready tactile route, indoors and out, built for daily footfall
The Challenge
A vehicle testing centre is a busy, mixed space. Cars move through the testing lanes while visitors walk between the parking area, the lanes and the Customer Happiness Center to complete their transactions. For a sighted visitor, the route is obvious. For a blind or visually impaired visitor, it was not.
The facility had no tactile surfaces, indoors or outdoors. Nothing underfoot showed where a walkway ended and a vehicle lane began, and nothing inside the hall led a visitor from the entrance to the service counters.
AG Cars wanted every visitor to reach the Customer Happiness Center safely and on their own. Two problems stood in the way:
- A compliance gap: As an RTA-licensed facility, the centre needed to bring its infrastructure in line with the Dubai Universal Design Code and RTA accessibility requirements for safe, step-by-step access to customer service areas.
- No tactile guidance: Visually impaired visitors had no physical cues to follow along the walkways, at vehicle crossings, or across the open tiled floor inside.
The centre needed one continuous tactile route, from the outdoor walkways to the counters, that would hold up to heavy daily foot traffic and suit the finish of a modern service hall.
The Solution
Flex Access reviewed the site against local code requirements, planned the visitor route, and installed a two-part tactile system covering the outdoor approach and the indoor service hall.
1. Compliance Consultation
- Code review: Flex Access advised AG Cars on the tactile requirements of the Dubai Universal Design Code and how they apply to a public-facing service facility.
- Route planning: The team identified the path visitors take from the walkways to the entrance and on to the counters, and where warning surfaces were needed along it.
2. Outdoor Tactile Paving
- High-contrast yellow paving: Fitted along the pedestrian walkways leading to the Customer Happiness Center entrance, giving visitors both a visual and a tactile guide.
- Vehicle lane crossings: Tactile surfaces mark the points where the walkway meets the vehicle lanes, so visitors know where to stop before crossing.
- One continuous route: The outdoor paving leads directly to the entrance, so the guidance does not break between the walkway and the building.
3. Indoor Tactile Guidance
- Directional strips: Grade 316 stainless steel tactile strips lead visitors across the hall to the service counters.
- Warning studs: Stainless steel warning studs mark the points where visitors need to stop or change direction.
- Fitted to the existing floor: The strips and studs were installed into the interior tiled flooring, keeping the hall’s original finish.
4. Built for High Footfall
- Heavy-duty stainless steel: Grade 316 steel is chosen for its resistance to wear and corrosion in busy public spaces.
- Made for UAE conditions: The materials are designed to withstand heat, humidity and constant foot traffic without losing their profile.
- Low maintenance: The steel finish needs only routine cleaning to stay effective.
5. A Finish That Fits the Space
- Clean, modern look: The brushed steel indicators sit neatly within the tiled floor and match the centre’s contemporary interior.
- Clear without being intrusive: The guidance is easy to detect underfoot and with a cane, while staying visually understated for other visitors.
The Results
- Code-Aligned Facility: The centre’s walkways and service hall now meet the tactile wayfinding requirements of the Dubai Universal Design Code and RTA accessibility guidelines.
- Independent Navigation: Blind and visually impaired visitors can find their way from the walkway to the service counter without needing staff assistance.
- Safer Movement Around Vehicles: Clear warning surfaces at vehicle lane crossings tell visitors where the pedestrian route ends.
- Long-Term Durability: Stainless steel indicators hold up to daily footfall and the UAE climate with minimal upkeep.
Nouh Aqra
Accessibility Consultant
Nouh Aqra is the founder of Flex Access, a Dubai based accessibility solutions company. He led the AG Cars Vehicle Testing Centre project from compliance consultation through installation, delivering a continuous tactile route that guides visually impaired visitors safely from the outdoor walkways to the service counters.
Project Gallery
A closer look at the centre, from the unmarked walkways and hall visitors faced to the tactile route Flex Access delivered.
Before our service
The centre before installation. Walkways, vehicle crossings and the service hall had no tactile surfaces, leaving visually impaired visitors without a route to follow.
After our service
The completed installation: high-contrast yellow tactile paving along the outdoor walkways and vehicle crossings, leading into Grade 316 stainless steel directional strips and warning studs that guide visitors to the service counters.
Transformation
A direct comparison of each area, showing exactly how Flex Access addressed the original safety risks with practical, lasting solutions.
See the Lift in Action
Walk the route from the outdoor walkway to the service counter and see how the tactile surfaces guide each step.
Safety
Independence
Compliance
Every visitor should be able to find their way in.
Flex Access plans and installs tactile paving and stainless steel tactile indicators for service centres, transport facilities and public buildings across the UAE, in line with the Dubai Universal Design Code. Tell us about your site and we will show you what your route needs, alongside our full range of accessibility services.