How Dubai Holding Entertainment turned inclusion into everyday practice
2025 WINNER · Diversity, equity and inclusion
Dubai Holding Entertainment’s winning entry examined inclusion from both sides of the business: employment and the guest experience. Its goal was to make People of Determination more visible in its workforce and better supported across its attractions.
What they did
The strategy brought together asset managers, HR, operations, external partners and people from the disability community. Each site appointed an Inclusion Champion to translate the wider approach into local action.
The entry described autism certification across theme parks, braille signage at The Green Planet and sign-language QR codes at key attractions. EnableWork internships created opportunities for workplace experience, while a People of Determination-operated kiosk at Global Village provided another route to participation.
Training, recruitment, websites and marketing were included in the approach, extending the work beyond individual events.
What the entry shows
The submission reported increased employment and internship participation, positive feedback from guests and families, and engagement with hundreds of People of Determination through visits, workshops and events. It did not provide detailed before-and-after figures for each outcome.
The clearest evidence is the set of changes introduced across services and workplace practices, with local ownership and community involvement.
What others can learn
Inclusion becomes practical when organisations examine the journey a person actually takes: finding information, applying for work, entering a venue or asking for assistance.
Co-design helps identify barriers that internal teams may miss. Assigning responsibility at each location helps turn that insight into a consistent experience.
Based on the organisation’s original 2025 mentl awards submission. Figures and observations are those reported in the entry.
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