Tactile Paving Tiles and Plates, Supplied and Installed to UAE Code
Flex Access supplies and installs tactile tiles and tactile plates in porcelain, stainless steel and PU across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the UAE. We check every layout against the code of the emirate your building is in, then install it and hand it over ready for inspection.
Quick Answer
What are tactile tiles and plates?
Tactile tiles and plates are floor units with raised studs or bars that people who are blind or have low vision can feel with a cane or their feet. Studs mean "stop, there is a hazard ahead". Bars mean "follow this path". A tactile tile is usually laid into the floor, while a tactile plate is usually fixed on top of an existing floor. In Dubai, the raised texture must be no more than 4mm high and must stand out from the floor around it by at least 50 LRV points.
What is a tactile surface?
A tactile surface is any part of a walkway with a raised, colour-contrasted texture that warns people of a hazard or guides them along a route. Tactile tiles, plates, studs and strips are all ways of creating one.
Why Flex Access
Why buy tactile tiles from a UAE accessibility specialist
You can order tactile tiles from catalogues all over the world. The product is only half the job. The other half is making sure it meets the code where your building is, looks right on your floor, and is installed so it passes inspection. That is what we do.
Specified to your emirate's code
Many catalogues quote Australian, Indian or US standards. We specify to the Dubai Universal Design Code, the Abu Dhabi International Building Code or the UAE Universal Design Code, depending on where you are.
Measured on your site
We check colour contrast against your actual floor and work out quantities from your drawings, not from a brochure.
One team, supply to sign-off
Supply, tactile installation, inspection and handover documents all come from one UAE company.
Local warranty and aftercare
A 5-year warranty with one UAE contact for repairs, re-fixing and replacements.
Tiles or Plates?
Tactile tiles vs tactile plates: what is the difference?
Both do the same job. The difference is how they go into the floor.
| Tactile tiles | Tactile plates | |
|---|---|---|
| How they are fixed | Laid into the floor with mortar or tile adhesive | Screwed, glued or stuck on top of the existing floor |
| Common materials | Porcelain, ceramic, stainless steel | Stainless steel, PU (polyurethane), brass |
| Best for | New buildings and re-tiling work | Existing floors that cannot be broken out |
| Disruption | Higher, the floor is re-laid | Low, no re-tiling |
| Finish | Sits flush with the floor | Sits slightly above the floor, with bevelled edges |
Not sure which one you need? Our free consultation will tell you, based on your floor and your project.
Our Range
Our tactile paving tiles
Integrated tactile tiles are laid as part of the floor. They suit new buildings, re-tiling projects and outdoor walkways.
Porcelain tactile tile with warning studs
A hard-wearing ceramic tactile tile with 36 raised studs on a 300 x 300mm face. Laid in cement or tile adhesive like a normal floor tile.
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Porcelain tactile tile with directional bars
The guiding partner to the warning tile. Raised bars run in the direction of travel to lead people along a safe route.
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Our tactile plates
Tactile plates are fixed on top of the floor you already have. They are the quickest way to add a compliant tactile surface without re-tiling.
Stainless steel tactile plate, warning studs
A 300 x 300mm SS304 or SS316 plate with 36 ringed studs, screwed into the floor. Tough enough for heavy foot traffic indoors and out.
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Stainless steel directional plate
Straight raised bars on a stainless steel plate, used to build a guidance route across an existing floor.
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Stainless steel plate with anti-slip inserts
Each stud has a gritty carborundum or rubber-like insert for extra grip, so the plate stays safe when wet.
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PU tactile plate, self-adhesive
A light, UV-stable polyurethane plate that peels and sticks onto a clean, smooth floor. No drilling, so the building can stay open.
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PU tactile plate, screw fix
A bright yellow polyurethane plate held down with screws, so it stays put outdoors and in busy areas where glue alone could lift.
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Brass tactile plate
A warm brass finish for hotel lobbies, majlis areas and design-led interiors, with the same raised pattern as our steel plates.
Ask on WhatsAppNeed individual studs or strips instead of full tiles? See our stainless steel tactile studs and tactile strips, which fit into your existing floor tiles one by one.
Specifications
Tactile tile and plate specifications
| Porcelain tiles | Stainless steel plates | PU plates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 300 x 300mm | 300 x 300mm | 300 x 300mm |
| Studs per tile | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| Stud or bar height | 4mm (Dubai UDC limit) | 4mm (Dubai UDC limit) | 4mm (Dubai UDC limit) |
| Material | Porcelain (ceramic) | SS304 or SS316 marine grade | UV-stable polyurethane |
| Colours | Grey, rose gold, yellow gold, blue, black | Brushed steel, PVD colours | Grey, terracotta, yellow, blue, black |
| Fixing | Cement or tile adhesive | Drill and screw | Self-adhesive or screw fix |
| Indoor / outdoor | Both | Both | Indoor (adhesive), outdoor (screw fix) |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years |
Uses
What are tactile tiles used for?
Tactile tiles and plates help people who are blind or have low vision move around safely on their own. There are two types, and most buildings need both.
Warning tiles: "stop and check"
Rows of raised studs, laid across the path just before a hazard. They tell the person to stop, because something like a stair or road is ahead.
Also available as individual tactile studs →Directional tiles: "follow this path"
Raised bars that run in the direction of travel. They lead people across open spaces, such as a lobby or plaza, to an entrance, lift or counter.
Also available as individual tactile strips →Where tactile tiles and plates are needed
Stairs
Top and bottom of every flight
Ramps
Top and bottom of each ramp
Road and car crossings
Where a walkway meets traffic
Platform edges
Metro, rail and any open drop
Lifts and escalators
In front of every landing
Entrances and counters
Guiding visitors from the door to service points
Made to Code
Tactile tiles to UAE code, emirate by emirate
The UAE does not have one single tactile rulebook. Each emirate follows its own building code, all under the federal law on the rights of People of Determination. We check your project against the code that applies where your building is.
Maximum texture height under the Dubai Universal Design Code
Minimum colour contrast between the tactile surface and the floor around it
Depth of a warning band, starting at least 300mm from the hazard
| Emirate | Code we follow | What we check |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Dubai Universal Design Code, Section 5.3 Tactile Surfaces | Texture height no more than 4mm, at least 50 LRV points of contrast, warning bands 300 to 400mm deep |
| Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi International Building Code 2013, with Abu Dhabi/ICC A117.1 | Section 1109.9 requires warning surfaces at open transit platform edges. Detailed tactile specifications follow Abu Dhabi/ICC A117.1 |
| Sharjah and Northern Emirates | UAE Universal Design Code | The federal tactile surfaces requirements, confirmed for your project at the consultation |
| All emirates | Federal Law No. 29 of 2006 | The right of People of Determination to safe, independent access |
Picking a colour that passes on UAE floors
The tactile tile has to stand out from the floor around it, so people with low vision can see it. Yellow works well on grey paving and light stone. On cream marble, a darker grey or black tile is often the better choice. On dark granite, brushed stainless steel stands out clearly.
We test the contrast against your actual floor before anything is ordered, so you are not guessing from a catalogue photo.
Choosing a Material
Porcelain vs stainless steel vs PU tactile tiles for UAE conditions
UAE heat, sun, sand and sea air are hard on floors. Here is how each material holds up.
| Porcelain | Stainless steel | PU | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat and sun | Excellent | Excellent | Good, UV-stable |
| Sand and heavy traffic | Very good | Excellent | Good |
| Sea air and pool areas | Very good | Excellent in SS316 | Good |
| New floor or existing floor | New or re-tiled floors | Both | Existing floors |
| Look | Matches the paving | Premium, modern | Bright, practical |
| Cost level | Mid | Higher | Lower |
Outdoor walkways
Porcelain tiles or SS316 stainless steel plates.
Busy indoor buildings that stay open
PU or stainless steel plates, fixed on top with no re-tiling.
Hotel and premium lobbies
Stainless steel or brass plates, or individual tactile studs.
Cost
How much does a tactile plate cost?
There is no single price, because the cost depends on what your building needs. We give you a written quote after a free consultation. These are the things that change the price:
Material
PU costs less than porcelain, and stainless steel and brass cost more.
How much you need
The number of stairs, entrances, lifts and crossings to cover.
Fixing method
Self-adhesive, screw fix, or laid into a new floor.
Your floor
Drilling stone takes more time than fixing to concrete or tile.
Working hours
Night or weekend work for buildings that must stay open.
Supply or full service
Supply only, or supplied, installed and documented by us.
Get a clear, written quote for your project, with no obligation to go ahead.
Get a Free Consultation and Quote →Supply Options
Supply only, or supplied and installed
Supply only
For contractors with their own teams. We supply the tiles or plates you need, with datasheets and samples for approval.
Supply and install
You give us the layout. We supply, install and check everything before handover.
Full service
We visit the site, design the tactile layout to code, supply, install and give you the compliance documents.
What you get with every order
See how we fit each type on our tactile installation service page.
Case Study
Tactile paving at AG Cars Vehicle Testing Centre, Dubai
The challenge
The centre had no tactile surfaces inside or out. Visitors with a visual impairment had no way to tell where the walkway ended and the vehicle lanes began, or how to reach the service counters. As an RTA-licensed facility, it needed to meet the Dubai Universal Design Code.
What we did
Outside, we laid high-contrast yellow tactile paving along the walkways to the entrance and at every crossing with the vehicle lanes. Inside, we added stainless steel directional strips and warning studs leading to the service counters, fitted into the existing floor tiles.
The result
Visitors who are blind or have low vision can now walk from the car park to the service counter on their own, with clear warnings wherever the walkway meets traffic.
Want to see more? Explore our latest case studies to see tactile projects we have completed across the UAE.
Planning a project with tactile tiles or plates?
Book a free consultation. We will check your floor, your code and your quantities, then send you a clear quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tactile tiles and plates FAQs
What are tactiles used for?
Tactiles help people who are blind or have low vision find their way safely. Raised studs warn them to stop before a hazard, such as stairs or a road. Raised bars guide them along a safe route to places like an entrance, lift or service counter.
What is a tactile surface?
A tactile surface is a part of the floor with a raised texture and a strong colour contrast, so people can feel it with a cane or their feet, and see it if they have some sight. Tactile tiles, plates, studs and strips all create tactile surfaces.
What are tactile tiles used for?
Tactile tiles are used to build warning areas at stairs, ramps, lifts, platform edges and crossings, and guidance routes across open spaces. They are often used outdoors and in new buildings, because they are laid as part of the floor.
How much does a tactile plate cost?
The price depends on the material, how many plates you need, how they are fixed, your floor type and when the work can be done. PU plates cost less than stainless steel or brass. We give you a written quote after a free consultation, with no obligation.
What is the difference between tactile tiles and tactile plates?
They do the same job. Tactile tiles are usually laid into the floor, like normal tiles. Tactile plates are usually fixed on top of an existing floor with screws or adhesive, so no re-tiling is needed.
What size are tactile tiles?
The most common size is 300 x 300mm, with 36 raised studs on a warning tile. In Dubai, the raised texture must be no more than 4mm high.
Are tactile tiles required in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
Yes, for public buildings and routes. In Dubai, the Universal Design Code sets out where tactile surfaces go and how they must look. In Abu Dhabi, the International Building Code requires warning surfaces at open transit platform edges and follows Abu Dhabi/ICC A117.1 for the details. Federal Law No. 29 of 2006 applies across the UAE. Our free consultation confirms exactly what your building needs.
Can tactile plates be installed on an existing floor?
Yes. Stainless steel and PU tactile plates are fixed on top of your existing floor with screws or adhesive, so there is no need to break out or re-lay tiles.
Which tactile tiles last longest outdoors in UAE heat?
Porcelain tiles and SS316 stainless steel plates last the longest outdoors. They handle heat, sun, sand and sea air very well. For PU outdoors, choose the screw-fix version so it cannot lift in the heat.
What colour should tactile tiles be?
The colour must contrast strongly with the floor around it. Yellow suits grey paving and light stone, darker tiles suit light marble, and stainless steel suits dark granite. We check the contrast on your actual floor before ordering.
Are ceramic and porcelain tactile tiles slippery when wet?
Porcelain tactile tiles have a textured surface with raised studs, which gives good grip. For pool decks and wet entrances, we can also recommend plates with anti-slip inserts.
Do you supply tactile tiles only, without installation?
Yes. We supply tactile tiles and plates to contractors with their own teams, with datasheets and samples for approval.
Written By
Nouh Aqra
Accessibility Consultant and Managing Director at Flex Access, with more than 10 years of experience delivering accessibility and mobility solutions across the UAE, including tactile installation and wayfinding projects reviewed against the Dubai Universal Design Code and Federal Law No. 29 of 2006.
More Tactile Solutions
Explore our other tactile products and services
Book your free tactile consultation
Tell us about your building. We will check your floor and the code for your emirate, recommend the right tiles or plates, and send you a clear written quote.