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Abstract

The term “People of Determination” (PODs), coined by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government, refers to women and men with disabilities and is articulated and inspired by the country’s history, culture, and traditions. This study aims to examine the constitutional and policy-oriented framework of PODs in terms of rights, services, and their integration process in UAE society. In so doing, it explores the UAE’s perspective on PODs in terms of conceptualization, services, framework of empowerment, institutions, rehabilitation efforts, employment, and societal integration. Although the UAE is a federal state composed of seven emirates with federal institutions, each emirate has established a set of governmental and nongovernmental institutions that provide an integrated system of care, rehabilitation, skills-building, employment, and inclusionary and societal integration for PODs. The country is a pioneer in this area such that prominent international institutions have recognized its accomplishments and organized major world events such as the 2019 Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi. The first section of this study examines issues surrounding conceptualization and some relevant theoretical contributions to PODs. The second investigates the constitutional and legal framework of the UAE’s POD paradigm. The third explains the UAE’s narrative about PODs as well as the policy-oriented instruments, institutions, and mechanisms that have translated such narrative, values, and laws into practical policies and institutions. Finally, the paper discusses accomplishments, outcomes, and recommendations. The article as a whole demonstrates how future researchers and policymakers can contribute to a deeper engagement with issues of gender and disability to achieve intersectional gender and disability justices.

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