How Flex Access installed an Elevex wheelchair platform lift at VOX Cinemas Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi, giving wheelchair users step-free access to raised seating.

CLIENT PROFILE

VOX Cinemas

LOCATION

Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi

ESTABLISHED YEAR

September 2026

FISCAL ENVELOPE

Step-free access to raised cinema seating without blocking any guest's view

The Challenge

In a stepped cinema hall, the best seats sit above floor level, and stairs are the only way up. At VOX Cinemas Yas Mall, wheelchair users could only stay on the ground floor area in front of the screen. From that position, the screen sits too close and too high, which makes a two hour film uncomfortable to watch.

VOX wanted wheelchair users to reach the raised seating area like every other guest. Two problems stood in the way:

No step-free route. The seating area is reached only by stairs. A ramp long enough to climb that height at a safe slope would not fit inside the hall.
A fixed platform was not an option. A permanent raised structure at the front of the seating would have blocked the screen for guests in the rows behind it.

The cinema needed a solution that lifted wheelchair users to the seating level when needed, then got out of everyone else’s sightline. It also had to fit the hall’s finished interior and meet the accessibility expectations of the Abu Dhabi International Building Code for assembly venues.

The Solution

Flex Access assessed the hall, ruled out a ramp and a fixed platform, and installed an Elevex wheelchair platform lift in the corner beside the main staircase.

1. Choosing the Right Lift

Short-rise vertical lift: The Elevex, built by Lehner Lifttechnik in Austria, is designed for short level changes like the step between a cinema floor and its seating area.
Rated for real use: It carries up to 340 kg, enough for a person in a powered wheelchair with a companion’s bags or equipment.
No hydraulics: A screw spindle drive moves the platform, so there is no hydraulic oil to leak onto carpets and less upkeep for the venue.
Standard power: It runs on a single-phase 230 V supply, so no major electrical works were needed inside the hall.

2. Built Into the Hall

Recessed installation: The lift sits in a recess in the side wall, so it does not take space from the aisle or the staircase.
Matching finish: The black platform and guard panels blend with the hall’s dark interior and wood panelling instead of standing out as an add-on.
Direct link to the seating level: The upper stop opens straight onto the raised seating area, so wheelchair users join the audience rather than sitting apart from it.

3. Safety at Every Stage

Fold-down entry ramp: A ramp lowers at floor level for a smooth roll-on, then folds up to act as a barrier while the platform moves.
Full-height guard panels: Solid side panels and a gate keep the user enclosed during travel.
Emergency stop: A red stop button on the platform control panel halts the lift instantly.
Grab handle: A handrail beside the controls gives the user something steady to hold.
Slow, steady travel: The platform moves at 0.04 m/s, gentle enough that the ride never feels sudden.

4. Simple Operation

Easy controls: The platform panel and wall call station use clear push buttons that a wheelchair user can reach from a seated position.
Flexible for the venue: A key switch lets VOX decide how the lift is used. Staff can operate it for guests, or leave it enabled so guests can use it on their own.

5. Clear Sightlines for Every Guest

Lowers after use: Once the wheelchair user reaches the seating level, the platform returns to the ground floor.
No permanent structure: Nothing stays raised in front of the seats, so guests in the rows behind keep a full view of the screen.

The Results

A Proper Viewing Position: Wheelchair users now watch from the raised seating level, at a comfortable distance and angle to the screen.
Equal Access: Guests using wheelchairs reach the same seating area as everyone else, through a dedicated step-free route.
Unchanged View for Others: The lift lowers after each use, so no guest has a blocked sightline.
Operational Flexibility: VOX can run the lift with staff assistance or open it for independent use, depending on the show and staffing.

Nouh Aqra is the founder of Flex Access, a Dubai based accessibility solutions company. He led the VOX Cinemas Yas Mall project from site assessment through installation, choosing a platform lift that gives wheelchair users access to raised seating without affecting the view of other guests.

Project Gallery

A closer look at the hall, from the stepped layout wheelchair users faced to the platform lift Flex Access delivered.

Before our service

The hall before installation. The seating area could only be reached by stairs, and wheelchair users were limited to the floor in front of the screen.

After our service

The completed installation: an Elevex platform lift recessed into the side wall, with a fold-down entry ramp, guard panels, emergency stop and wall call station, finished to match the hall.

See the Lift in Action

Watch the hall before installation, then see the Elevex lift carry a wheelchair user from the cinema floor to the seating level.

Safety

Independence

Automation

Every guest deserves a good seat.

Stairs should never decide who gets to enjoy the show. Flex Access designs and installs wheelchair platform lifts for cinemas, theatres and auditoriums across the UAE, fitted to your space and finished to match it, alongside our full range of accessibility services. Let's make your venue open to every guest.

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