Ground handler dnata is testing an autonomous wheelchair at Dubai International Airport, seeking to give travelers more independence at a hub where it assists about 2 million customers with accessibility needs each year.
dnata announced the trial Oct. 19 as a possible addition to its passenger services. The company has not set a date for regular use, said how many chairs it might operate or reported a measured reduction in travel time.
Dubai Airports said the airport handled 95.2 million guests in 2025. dnata’s annual assistance figure refers to customers who need mobility help or other accessibility support.
Separately from the trial, dnata said it has put three new ambulifts into service to help travelers board and leave aircraft. It is adding 24 accessibility buggies and bringing in three sets of battery-operated wheelchairs. Those additions are distinct from the autonomous chair under test.
The National reported that testing is taking place in Terminal 1’s Concourse D. The chair uses four cameras with light detection and ranging technology, and a passenger can stop it manually, the outlet said. The National also reported that an expansion to Terminal 3 is possible.
Travelers can request dnata’s free accessibility assistance through their airline when booking or before travel. For departing passengers in Terminals 1 and 2, Dubai Airports says its existing wheelchair service runs from check-in counters to boarding gates.
Dubai Airports has set a 2035 goal to make Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International more accessible and inclusive. dnata has described the autonomous chair only as a potential future service.
Jaffar Dawood, dnata’s divisional senior vice president for UAE airport operations, said the company was “investing in the people, equipment and technology” to improve access.
dnata is displaying the wheelchair technology at the AccessAbilities Expo in Dubai, which runs from Oct. 19 to 21.
