New ATM set up for visually challenged people in UAE

Dubai - The ATM, located at the headquarters of the GDRFA, also provides banking services to people with motor disabilities.

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) and the Sharjah Islamic bank has established an ATM for the visually challenged and other people of determination.
The ATM, located at the headquarters of the GDRFA, also provides banking services to people with motor disabilities.
The GDRFA is the first government entity to offer the service that allows determined ones to do ATM transactions without any help from others.
Major-General Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, director-general of the GDRFA, said the initiative is in line with national policies to empower people of determination.
It follows the 'My Community, A City for Everyone' campaign, which was launched by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, aiming to make the emirate a 'completely friendly place' for people of determination by 2020.
Mohammed Abdullah, CEO of Sharjah Islamic Bank, said: "With the new service, we hope to allow people of determination who are visually challenged or have motor disability to get banking services easily from the ATM."
The GDRFA's 22-member team of people of determination hailed the new programme.
Latifa Al Sewedy said that throughout her 14-year career at the GDRFA, the administration has always prioritised their convenience.
She was surprised to see the new ATM close to her place and was happy to discover how user-friendly it was.
hesham@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai