Emirates Airlines wheelchair assistance is available for passengers who need help moving through the airport, boarding the aircraft, making a connection, or reaching onward transport after arrival.
Emirates can arrange airport wheelchair assistance and can also help passengers travelling with their own wheelchair or mobility aid. If possible, tell Emirates about the assistance you need when booking or at least 48 hours before departure.
Emirates Wheelchair Assistance – Quick Information
Request assistance: At booking, through Manage Your Booking, your travel agent, or Emirates customer service.
Recommended notice: At least 48 hours before your flight.
Electric wheelchair: Provide battery type, wheelchair dimensions, and weight before travel.
Official information: Emirates Accessible Travel
Does Emirates Airlines Provide Wheelchair Assistance?
Yes. Emirates provides wheelchair and mobility assistance throughout different stages of the passenger journey.
Depending on the airport and your mobility requirements, assistance may include:
- Wheelchair assistance at the airport
- Help from the terminal entrance
- Assistance through the airport
- Help reaching the departure gate
- Priority boarding
- Onboard wheelchair assistance
- Help during a connection
- Assistance after landing
- Help towards onward transport
How Do I Request Wheelchair Assistance on Emirates Airlines?
You can request Emirates wheelchair assistance when making your reservation or after booking your flight.
If your ticket has already been booked, open your reservation through Emirates Manage Your Booking and add the assistance you require.
You can also contact Emirates or ask your travel agent to arrange the service.
Emirates recommends notifying the airline at least 48 hours before your flight about assistance you need before, during, or after the flight.
For the latest information, visit the Emirates Accessible and Inclusive Travel Hub.
What Type of Wheelchair Assistance Should I Request?
The type of assistance you need depends on your level of mobility. Give Emirates clear information about what you can and cannot do independently.
For example, tell the airline if you:
- Can walk but cannot manage long airport distances
- Cannot climb stairs
- Need a wheelchair through the airport
- Need assistance to the aircraft door
- Cannot walk through the aircraft cabin
- Need an onboard wheelchair
- Are travelling with your own wheelchair
- Use a powered wheelchair or mobility scooter
When Should I Request Emirates Wheelchair Assistance?
It is better to request assistance when booking your flight. If that is not possible, Emirates recommends contacting the airline at least 48 hours before departure.
Advance notice is particularly important when travelling with:
- An electric wheelchair
- A mobility scooter
- A battery-powered mobility device
- A large or heavy wheelchair
- A customised mobility device
- Special medical equipment
Can I Bring My Own Wheelchair on Emirates?
Yes. Emirates allows passengers to travel with their own wheelchairs and mobility aids.
Emirates states that passengers can bring medical equipment and up to two mobility aids into the cabin where the devices can be safely accommodated and stowed.
A collapsible manual wheelchair may therefore be accepted in the cabin when there is suitable storage space.
Otherwise, the wheelchair or mobility aid can be checked into the aircraft hold.
Does a Wheelchair Count Towards Cabin Baggage?
Emirates states that qualifying medical equipment and up to two mobility aids do not count towards the passenger's total cabin baggage allowance.
Whether a particular device can actually be carried in the cabin depends on its size, design, available storage space, and safety requirements.
What Happens If Emirates Checks My Wheelchair?
If your wheelchair cannot be safely stored in the cabin, Emirates may transport it in the aircraft hold.
The wheelchair or mobility aid must be appropriately prepared so it can be transported safely.
Emirates also states that wheelchairs and mobility aids are inspected at check-in and any pre-existing damage is recorded.
What Information Should I Give Emirates About My Wheelchair?
If you are travelling with your own wheelchair, keep the following information ready:
- Wheelchair manufacturer
- Model
- Weight
- Width
- Height
- Length
- Whether the wheelchair folds
- Battery type
- How the battery should be disconnected or secured
- Removable components
- Safe lifting points
- Assembly and disassembly instructions
Should I Bring Wheelchair Disassembly Instructions?
Yes. Emirates asks passengers checking their own wheelchair to bring written instructions explaining how the wheelchair should be disassembled and assembled.
This is especially useful for powered, customised, or complicated mobility devices.
Can I Fly With an Electric Wheelchair on Emirates?
Yes. Electric wheelchairs and other powered mobility aids can be carried, but additional safety requirements apply.
Emirates needs information about the wheelchair's:
- Battery type
- Dimensions
- Weight
These details help determine whether the mobility device can be safely transported on your flight.
How Early Should I Arrive With an Electric Wheelchair?
Emirates recommends arriving at the airport three hours before your flight when travelling with an electric wheelchair or mobility aid.
The additional time allows airport staff to check the device and make sure it can be transported safely under applicable regulations.
What About Wheelchair Batteries?
Battery-powered wheelchairs require additional checks because aviation safety requirements vary according to battery type and configuration.
Common mobility-device batteries include:
- Lithium-ion batteries
- Non-spillable batteries
- Spillable batteries
- Dry-cell batteries
Do not assume that every battery is handled in the same way. Give Emirates the exact battery information before travelling.
What Are Emirates Wheelchair Size Restrictions?
Wheelchair size limits can depend on the aircraft operating your flight because cargo-door dimensions vary.
Emirates currently publishes cargo-door dimensions for its different aircraft types, including the Airbus A350, Airbus A380, and Boeing 777.
You can check your aircraft through Manage Your Booking and compare your mobility-device dimensions with Emirates' published limits.
Check the latest measurements directly on the Emirates Before the Flight accessibility page.
Should I Photograph My Wheelchair Before Flying?
Taking photographs before handing over your mobility device is a sensible precaution.
Take clear photographs of:
- The complete wheelchair
- Wheels
- Frame
- Joystick and controls
- Battery area
- Seat and backrest
- Existing scratches or damage
- Removable components
Keep the photographs until your journey is complete.
Can I Take Crutches or a Walking Stick on Emirates?
Yes. Emirates allows canes, crutches, and walking sticks onboard and will arrange for them to be safely stowed.
Can Wheelchair Passengers Get Priority Boarding on Emirates?
Yes. Passengers using a wheelchair or another mobility aid can receive priority boarding.
If you have arranged assistance, Emirates can allow you to board before other passengers so you have additional time to reach your seat and get settled.
You can also notify Emirates staff at check-in that you require preferential boarding.
Does Emirates Have an Onboard Wheelchair?
Yes. Emirates has wheelchairs designed to fit through the aircraft aisle.
If you use your own wheelchair until boarding, you may need to transfer from your personal wheelchair to the onboard wheelchair at the aircraft door.
Your personal wheelchair can then be transported in the aircraft hold when required.
Can Emirates Cabin Crew Lift Me?
Emirates cabin crew can assist passengers around the aircraft using the onboard wheelchair, but cabin crew are not able to physically lift passengers.
If you require significant help transferring between your wheelchair and seat, personal care, assistance in the lavatory, help eating, or medication assistance, you may need to travel with an assistant.
What If I Cannot Climb Aircraft Stairs?
Tell Emirates in advance if you cannot climb or descend stairs independently.
At some remote aircraft stands, Emirates can use accessible equipment to help passengers who cannot use stairs.
The airline also uses wheelchair-accessible buses when passengers need transport between the terminal and an aircraft parked at a remote stand.
What Happens During an Emirates Connection in Dubai?
If you have arranged accessibility assistance, Emirates can help during your connection through Dubai International Airport.
Make sure wheelchair assistance is attached to the entire itinerary, not only the first flight.
If another airline operates part of your journey, contact that carrier separately to confirm its wheelchair and mobility-aid procedures.
What Happens to My Wheelchair After Landing?
Where local regulations and airport procedures permit, Emirates says it will try to return your wheelchair or mobility aid as close to the aircraft door as possible.
If that is not possible, an airport wheelchair can be provided and your personal mobility device can be collected from the baggage hall.
What If My Wheelchair Is Damaged?
Inspect your wheelchair or mobility aid as soon as it is returned.
If you notice damage, report it to Emirates or the appropriate airport baggage-service team before leaving the airport whenever possible.
Keep:
- Photos taken before the flight
- Photos showing the damage
- Your boarding pass
- Baggage or mobility-device tags
- Wheelchair make and model
- Serial number
- Any report or claim reference
Do I Need a Medical Form for Emirates Wheelchair Assistance?
A MEDIF is generally not required simply because you need wheelchair assistance.
Emirates may require its Medical Information Form in certain situations involving a medical condition, medical equipment, fitness to fly, or additional medical support.
You can check the current requirements on the Emirates MEDIF information page.
How Do I Contact Emirates for Wheelchair Assistance?
Because Emirates operates internationally, customer-service telephone numbers vary by country.
Instead of relying on an outdated number, use Emirates' official Help and Contact section to find the correct number for your location.
Find Emirates Contact and Help Options
Passengers flying from the United States or Canada who require TTY support can use Emirates' published TTY service at 1-888-320-1576.
Emirates Wheelchair Assistance Checklist
Before leaving for the airport:
- Request wheelchair assistance in advance
- Confirm assistance in your reservation
- Save your booking reference
- Measure your personal wheelchair
- Check your aircraft type
- Photograph the wheelchair
- Know the battery type
- Prepare written handling instructions
- Label removable parts
- Allow additional airport time
- Confirm assistance at check-in
- Confirm assistance for connecting flights
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Emirates Airlines provide wheelchair assistance?
Yes. Emirates provides wheelchair and mobility assistance for passengers who need help navigating the airport, boarding, making connections, or leaving the aircraft.
How do I request wheelchair assistance on Emirates?
You can request assistance when booking, through Manage Your Booking, through your travel agent, or by contacting Emirates. The airline recommends providing notice at least 48 hours before departure.
Can I bring my own wheelchair on Emirates?
Yes. Emirates accepts personal wheelchairs and mobility aids. Whether a device can travel in the cabin or aircraft hold depends on its size, design, available space, and safety requirements.
Can I take an electric wheelchair on Emirates?
Yes. Emirates accepts electric mobility devices subject to applicable safety requirements. Provide the airline with the battery type, dimensions, and weight before travel.
How early should I arrive with an electric wheelchair?
Emirates recommends arriving approximately three hours before departure when travelling with an electric wheelchair or mobility aid.
Do wheelchair passengers get priority boarding on Emirates?
Passengers using wheelchairs or mobility aids who have arranged assistance can receive priority boarding so they have additional time to board and get settled.
Does Emirates have wheelchairs onboard?
Yes. Emirates has onboard wheelchairs designed to move through the aircraft aisle.
Do I need a MEDIF just for wheelchair assistance?
Emirates states that a MEDIF is generally not required when a passenger only requires wheelchair assistance and does not require medical assessment, special medical assistance, or medical equipment during travel.
Related Airline Wheelchair Assistance Guides
- Delta Airlines Wheelchair Assistance
- United Airlines Wheelchair Assistance
- American Airlines Wheelchair Assistance
- Southwest Airlines Wheelchair Assistance
- Airline Customer Service Phone Numbers
Final Word
Emirates Airlines wheelchair assistance can support passengers from the airport through boarding, connections, and arrival. If you need assistance, arranging it before the day of travel is the safest approach.
Passengers travelling with a personal wheelchair or scooter should also prepare the device dimensions, weight, battery information, and written handling instructions before arriving at the airport.
For the latest requirements, always check the official Emirates accessibility information before your flight.