Travel often comes with those little stressors we don’t usually think about—like waiting at counters or navigating smart gates. For Shani, a Dubai resident and avid traveller who’s explored 46 countries, these “small” hassles have often turned into significant obstacles.
At just 116cm tall, Shani has encountered it all: smart gates that don’t register her, counters that are too high to reach, and the awkward detours of a world built for the “average” adult height.
But this time, something incredible happened at Dubai International Airport (DXB)
In a heartwarming moment captured on camera, Shani approached the airport’s smart gate—and this time, it worked.
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No special lines, no awkward waits, and no extra help needed. Just seamless, effortless, and independent travel—the way it should be.
You can actually feel the joy in the video as she turns to the airport staff with a smile, letting them know it worked. And the staff? They celebrated the moment with her!
“At DXB, I finally experienced what seamless travel feels like — no separate lines, no counters too high to see over and no awkward moments. Just innovation designed for more than just an average height person.”
She also gave a heartfelt shoutout to Dubai Airports and GDRFA Dubai for going beyond just talking about accessibility—they’re truly delivering on it, setting a new world-class standard.
