Are Attitudes Towards People with Disability Preventing Positive Change in the UAE Workforce?

Although the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is celebrated for its remarkable levels of heterogeneity, disability integration remains a relatively recent endeavour. Various measures are being implemented to enhance inclusivity in the workplace, including national initiatives and policies. However, despite progressive changes, actual integration seems limited. While fostering inclusion in the workplace and cultivating attitudes that support the integration of people with disabilities (PWD) bring notable benefits, such as fostering an inclusive work culture that increases profitability and attracting diverse customers, as well as creating opportunities for PWD to enhance social capital, income, and overall quality of life, prevailing attitudes continue to pose challenges. Hence, this study analysed the attitudes of 150 participants in the workforce, representing diverse cultural backgrounds and industries across the UAE. The findings revealed influential antecedents shaping these attitudes. Univariate analysis of variance identified the number of contact hours, and correlational analyses unveiled significant associations between attitudes towards disabled persons and the type of disability, particularly psychological disabilities. Additionally, a conceptual model of antecedents specific to the region is proposed, aiming to bolster workplace developments in the UAE. Furthermore, the exploration of how positive psychology research could potentially transform relevant attitudes towards PWD is examined as one approach to facilitating workplace inclusion.