StrongAccess · UAE · Saudi Arabia · Qatar
Accessibility is no longer optional in the GCC. National policies now name it, tenders ask for evidence, and citizens expect it. StrongAccess gives government, banking, healthcare, telecom and large enterprises a WCAG assurance programme built for Arabic, right-to-left and bilingual digital journeys.
Why now
GCC regulators, procurement teams and citizens are no longer waiting. Accessibility is becoming a contract requirement.
01 · Compliance
The UAE's National Policy for Digital Accessibility covers ministries, authorities, semi-government entities and private digital service providers, along with their contractors.
02 · Citizens and customers
Older citizens, people of determination and Arabic-first users expect equal access across web, mobile and PDFs.
03 · Procurement
Public-sector RFPs are favouring vendors who can show an accessibility statement, a recent audit and a remediation plan.
04 · Reputation
A broken Arabic form, an unreadable PDF or an inaccessible app escalated on social media becomes an executive-level issue.
GCC policy reality
Public-sector entities are leading and the private sector is following. This is a summary, not legal advice.
| Dimension | UAE | Saudi Arabia | Qatar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Policy anchor | National Policy for Digital Accessibility (issued March 2024) | Digital Government Authority (DGA) web accessibility guidelines for government websites | National digital accessibility direction aligned with WCAG |
| Applies to | Federal ministries, authorities, semi-government entities, private companies providing digital services, and their partners and contractors | Government websites and digital channels; private sector aligning | Government and regulated entities, expanding to wider digital services |
| Technical baseline | WCAG 2.1 AA referenced | WCAG-based guidance for digital channels | WCAG-aligned criteria for public digital services |
| How StrongAccess helps | One WCAG assurance programme across UAE federal, local and semi-government channels | Audit and evidence aligned to DGA guidance for government and supplier channels | Bilingual testing and evidence packs for public digital services |
Sources: UAE National Digital Accessibility Policy (u.ae); Digital Government Authority, Saudi Arabia (dga.gov.sa).
The GCC-specific layer
Global tools miss Arabic, right-to-left flow and bilingual switching. Most defects in GCC digital services only show up when journeys are tested in Arabic, on real devices, with assistive technology.
Cost of inaction
Accessibility debt behaves like security debt: invisible until it isn't, and always more expensive later.
Compliance reviews are under way. Gaps become formal findings that reach senior leadership.
Misaligned forms, labels that collide with screen readers and lost context when switching language.
Login, KYC and payments that users abandon without ever telling you why.
Fixing after release means re-engineering components and re-testing flows. It costs several times more than fixing during design and build.
No statement, no recent audit and no remediation plan means slower vendor approvals and weaker bids.
An inaccessible flagship channel is now a reputational risk at board level.
How we engage
Stage 01 · Assess
3–6 weeks
Stage 02 · Fix
6–12 weeks
Stage 03 · Sustain
12 months+
Packages
Package 01
2–4 weeks
Prove value quickly on your most important journeys or flagship channel.
Best for Fast proof, a board-grade baseline and early procurement evidence.
Package 02
3–6 months
Audit, remediation and sign-off across your main digital channels.
Best for Organisations preparing for a procurement or audit cycle.
Package 03
12 months+
Year-round accessibility assurance across your digital estate.
Best for Public sector and regulated enterprises running accessibility as a programme.
Every package is scoped to your channels, languages and regulatory context. You'll receive a fixed quote after a short scoping session. Each package is designed to lead into the next.
Next steps
Pick the entry point that fits your urgency. We'll agree scope, language coverage and regulatory context in one working session.
No commitment
A 90-minute executive working session on GCC policy, your channel inventory and quick-win priorities.
Book a briefingFree · 5 business days
A free, scoped audit of one flagship page, with real findings, an Arabic / RTL check and a remediation plan.
Request a sample auditMobilise in 7 days
Lock in the Rapid Pilot: scope one critical journey, schedule the audit and readout, and start within a week.
Start a pilotFAQ
The UAE's National Policy for Digital Accessibility applies to federal entities, semi-government bodies and private companies that provide digital services, along with their partners and contractors. It references WCAG 2.1 Level AA. We test to WCAG 2.2 AA, which includes every 2.1 AA requirement.
Yes, and it's central to how we work in the GCC. We test both the Arabic and English versions, including right-to-left layout, language switching, and how Arabic content is announced by screen readers.
Yes. Our Accessibility Program and Managed Assurance packages include an accessibility statement and a procurement evidence pack, and we can prepare an Accessibility Conformance Report where a tender asks for one.
We audit one flagship page or screen against WCAG, include an Arabic / RTL check, and send you a real sample of findings and a remediation plan within five business days. There's no commitment.
Yes. We work with organisations across the GCC. Engagements are delivered remotely and on site in the UAE, with on-site visits elsewhere in the region arranged where an engagement needs them.
Tell us which channels matter most and which languages they serve. We'll come back with a scoped plan and a fixed quote.