The flagship Dubai cinema has secured Dubai Municipality’s Wosool Certificate of Compliance with Accessibility Regulations for Existing Buildings, becoming the first cinema in the GCC to receive this form of accessibility certification. The designation confirms that the venue has met formal requirements linked to the Dubai Building Code and Dubai Universal Design Code for access, movement, facilities and user independence.
The recognition applies across the cinema experience at Mall of the Emirates, covering all auditoriums and service areas. The upgraded venue now includes accessible doors, suitable ramps at entrances and exits, accessible health facilities, dedicated counters, auditorium spaces for People of Determination and improved wayfinding across the premises. The changes are intended to allow guests with different mobility, sensory and access needs to use the venue with greater comfort and independence.
The certification places VOX Cinemas’ flagship location at the centre of Dubai’s wider push to make public-facing buildings and destinations accessible to all users, including People of Determination, older residents, families with children and visitors requiring assisted access. Dubai’s accessibility framework has increasingly moved from optional accommodation to regulated compliance, particularly for buildings serving large numbers of residents and tourists.
Ignace Lahoud, chief executive officer of Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment, described the Wosool certification as a milestone that reflects the group’s commitment to inclusive design. He said the achievement reinforced the company’s belief that excellence should be “inclusive by design” and linked the development to Majid Al Futtaim’s broader sustainability strategy, Dare Today, Change Tomorrow.
The move also carries commercial significance for the cinema sector, where operators are investing in premium seating, immersive projection, upgraded food and beverage services and customer personalisation to counter competition from streaming platforms. Accessibility is becoming a growing part of that investment cycle, with entertainment companies under pressure to ensure that premium experiences do not exclude guests with physical or sensory barriers.
VOX Cinemas at Mall of the Emirates has been undergoing a phased transformation, including upgrades to premium auditoriums, the rollout of enhanced seating and the introduction of advanced projection and sound systems. The venue also added a new IMAX experience featuring premium pod-style seating designed by Ōma Cinema, part of a wider refurbishment programme at one of the brand’s most prominent destinations.
Majid Al Futtaim operates VOX Cinemas as part of its leisure and entertainment portfolio, alongside attractions such as Ski Dubai, Magic Planet and other family entertainment concepts. VOX is one of the largest cinema exhibitors in the region, with hundreds of screens across markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt and Lebanon. Its Mall of the Emirates site remains a flagship location because of its scale, format mix and visibility within one of Dubai’s best-known retail and leisure destinations.
The Wosool certification is tied to Dubai’s broader “My Community… A City for Everyone” initiative, which seeks to make the emirate more inclusive for People of Determination. The framework is supported by the Dubai Universal Design Code, which sets standards for buildings, facilities and services so that users can access them without avoidable barriers. Existing buildings that meet Wosool requirements and achieve the required accessibility score can receive formal certification.
For cinema operators, the challenge is more complex than adding ramps or accessible toilets. Auditoriums must account for seating positions, sightlines, circulation routes, emergency exits, counters, ticketing points, food service areas and signage. A fully accessible cinema also requires a consistent journey from arrival to screen, rather than isolated adjustments in selected areas.
The development could set a benchmark for other entertainment venues in the Gulf, where major retail and leisure assets are competing to attract residents, tourists and families. Dubai’s malls, cinemas and indoor attractions play a central role in the city’s year-round entertainment economy, making accessibility a practical business issue as well as a regulatory and social priority.
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