Digital Accessibility Statement

Commitment to Digital Accessibility 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) is committed to ensuring its digital platforms are accessible and inclusive for everyone, without exception — including People of Determination and senior citizens. This commitment reflects the United Arab Emirates’ ambitious vision of building a barrier-free digital ecosystem, as outlined in the UAE National Policy for Digital Accessibility.

Objectives of the Digital Accessibility Statement:
1. Building a cohesive barrier-free society, where every person enjoys digital accessibility. 
2. Complying with national laws and policies regarding digital accessibility.
3. Empowering and enhancing the wellbeing and quality of life for people of determination and senior citizens through facilitating their access to highly efficient digital services
4. Contributing to achieving the integrated and comprehensive digital government vision.
5. Employing the latest digital technologies, including AI, to enhance and develop digital services.
6. Building a digital, paperless work environment that increases productivity and improves customer experience.
7. Providing diverse digital services that meet the needs of all customers, with a focus on fulfilling the needs of people of determination and senior citizens.

Digital Accessibility Standards:
Our digital platforms, developed using the UAE Design System, are inherently compliant with WCAG 2.2 AA standards, offering advanced features for greater inclusivity.

Ongoing Accessibility Efforts:
We are committed to developing a continuous and comprehensive digital experience. We focus on regularly testing and updating MoFA’s website and smartphone application. Audits and user feedback help us identify and address any constraints, ensuring a best experience for all.

Accessibility Features:
Our platforms are being consciously equipped with the following features to enhance usability for all:

Visually Impaired Mode
o Font (Arial) – Replaces the current font with a clear and easy-to-read font like Arial, improving letter distinction.
o Larger Text (1.25x) – Increases text size by 25% for easier reading without manual zooming.
o Letter Spacing – Adjusts spacing between letters to enhance clarity.
o Line Spacing – Increases spacing between lines for better readability.
o Text Alignment – Optimizes text arrangement for visually impaired users.
o High Saturation – Enhances color saturation for better distinction.
o Dark Contrast – Improves text-background contrast to reduce eye strain.
o Large Cursor (White or Black) – Enlarges the cursor for easier interaction.
o Highlight Links – Enhances link visibility by changing colors or adding underlines.
o Enable/Disable Effects – Reduces or disables animations that may be distracting.

Impaired Mobility Mode
o Larger Text (1.25x) – Increases text size for easier reading.
o Enable/Disable Effects – Minimizes animations to improve usability.
o Full keyboard navigation support for users with motor disabilities.

Cognitive Education Mode
o Reading Guide – Highlights text to improve focus and comprehension.
o Disable Effects – Turns off unnecessary animations to reduce distractions.
o Larger Text (1.25x) – Enhances text size for better readability.

Color Blindness Mode
o High/Low Saturation – Adjusts colors based on different types of color blindness.
o Desaturation – Converts content to grayscale for better contrast.
o Invert Colors – Makes elements easier to distinguish.
o Highlight Links – Uses underlines and visual effects to improve visibility.
o Light/Dark Contrast – Enhances readability.

Dyslexia Mode
o Dyslexia Font (Arabic/English) – Uses fonts designed to improve readability.
o Reading Guide – Helps track text while reading.
o Letter and Line Spacing – Adjusts spacing to enhance clarity.
o Text Alignment – Optimizes layout for better comprehension.

Seizure and Epilepsy Mode
o Disable Effects – Turns off flashing animations to prevent overstimulation.
o Low Saturation – Reduces bright colors.

ADHD Mode
o Disable Effects – Eliminates distractions from animations.
o Page Mask – Highlights focused sections while dimming the rest.
o Highlight Links – Uses color contrast to improve visibility.
o Low Saturation – Reduces distractions by toning down colors.

Additional Accessibility Features
o Text Reader – A text-to-speech function for visually impaired users.
o Alternative Text – Descriptive text for images to aid screen readers.
o Accessible Forms – Forms designed for compatibility with assistive technologies.
o Browser Compatibility – Testing our platforms across popular web browsers.
o Video Transcriptions and Captions – Ensures accessibility for hearing-impaired users.
o Multi-Language Support – Provides content in multiple languages.

Feedback and Support:
If you face any difficulties accessing our digital platforms or have suggestions for improvement, please reach out to our support team: Contact Us.

Continuous Improvement:
1. Regular audits and testing of our digital platforms.
2. Incorporating user feedback to address any obstacles.
3. Updating features to align with evolving accessibility standards.

Limitations and Exceptions:
Despite our continued efforts to ensure seamless digital accessibility, some content or third-party integrations may not fully comply with accessibility standards. If you encounter any issues, please contact us to request an alternative format or additional support.

Compliance with Laws and Policies:
We comply with all the relevant UAE laws and regulations regarding digital accessibility and adhere to the directives of the UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA).

Click the following link to learn about the National Digital Accessibility Policy.