• Real parents share unfiltered tips for autism-friendly airport travel
  • DXB introduces Sunflower Lanyard and priority routes for support
  • Travel rehearsals and visual planners ease anxiety for autistic kids
  • Campaign invites families to join #AutismFriendlyTravel at @DXB

Let’s face it—airports can feel like a boss-level video game on mute: bright lights, background chaos, and rules no one really explains. Now, imagine playing that game with the sensory dial turned up to max. That’s what travel can feel like for individuals on the autism spectrum. But this April, Dubai Airports isn’t just lighting the runway—it’s turning the spotlight onto the real experts: parents of autistic children who are rewriting the flight manual with every boarding pass.

In a move that’s more heart than hashtag, Dubai Airports has launched a new campaign for Autism Acceptance Month, inviting parents to share the raw, real, and ridiculously useful tips that actually help families navigate airports when autism is part of the journey. And spoiler alert: these stories are the kind of scroll-stopping, soul-hitting content that deserve a window seat in your mind.

Yasmin Carey, Big Hass (yes, the Big Hass), and Ambreen Suhaib aren’t just talking travel—they’re dropping gems of wisdom like seasoned copilots of family flight paths. Think noise-cancelling headphones, visual schedules, fidget toys, spare outfits, and travel rehearsals that would make even a Disney itinerary look basic.

Yasmin swears by the DPNA code (Disabled Passenger with Intellectual or Developmental Disability Needing Assistance—say that three times fast) and a visual routine that keeps her son Ellis on track.
Big Hass rolls with the Travel Safari programme to rehearse airport flow and stresses the power of the Sunflower Lanyard—the international symbol for hidden disabilities.
Ambreen packs like a pro and reminds us that stimming isn’t a tantrum—it’s a coping mechanism. And if you’re staring, you’re doing it wrong.

“Meltdowns aren’t misbehaving—they’re our kids telling us the volume’s too high, the smells are too sharp, or the vibes are just… off,” Ambreen shares. Real talk. No filter. And totally necessary.

This campaign isn’t just a feel-good flex. It’s a call to join the conversation. Parents are being encouraged to post their travel tips using #AutismFriendlyTravel and tag @DXB, because you never know—your hack for packing snacks or boarding last could make another family’s flight 10x smoother.

Dubai International (DXB) isn’t just tossing around buzzwords. It’s officially a Certified Autism Center and it’s bringing the receipts in the form of next-level accessibility features:

  • 🧩 Sunflower Lanyard: discreet, powerful, and available at info desks and with Guest Experience Ambassadors
  • ✈️ Priority sunflower routes: for smoother check-in, security, and boarding
  • 📱 DXB Travel Planner: a visual playbook for a calmer journey
  • 🅿️ 2-hour free parking for guests with physical impairments
  • 🧘‍♀️ Assisted Travel Lounge in Terminal 2: aka the sensory-friendly chill zone
  • 🧷 Guest Experience Ambassadors with sunflower pins, trained to help when things get overwhelming

Real support. Real action. Real change.

What Dubai Airports is doing isn’t just a campaign—it’s a case study in how brands can move from awareness to action. They’re proving that inclusive travel isn’t a luxury—it’s the new boarding standard.

So next time you’re jetting off from DXB, keep an eye out for those sunflower signs, a spare pack of understanding, and maybe, just maybe, a little less judgement in your carry-on.

Flying should be for everyone. And thanks to voices like Yasmin’s, Big Hass’s, and Ambreen’s—now it can be.

For more info on how DXB is transforming travel for families and individuals with autism, head to dubaiairports.ae/hidden-disabilities.