In partnership with certified disability inclusion social enterprise ImInclusive, UAE luxury retail conglomerate Chalhoub Group has installed hearing induction loops across 300 retail stores across the Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.
This large-scale implementation aims to demonstrate the Group’s commitment to catering to diverse clientele including hard of hearing customers who use cochlear implants or hearing aids.
Group head of talent acquisition at Chalhoub Group, Damian Brown, said: “True inclusivity begins with creating an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued.
“By installing hearing loops across our stores, we are taking a significant step towards ensuring an inclusive shopping experience for hard-of-hearing customers. At Chalhoub Group, we are proud to lead the way in promoting accessibility and embracing diversity within the retail industry.”
In parallel to the installation of the hearing loops across Chalhoub Group’s retail stores, hard-of-hearing trainers of ImInclusive are conducting staff-wide hard-of-hearing culture and sign language communication training.
CEO and founder at ImInclusive, Hafsa Qadeer, commented: “Our long-term partnership with Chalhoub Group is a source of great pride for our inclusive community.
“Together, we are achieving remarkable milestones. This partnership emphasises our unwavering dedication to crafting inclusive journeys for both customers and employees with disabilities.
Chalhoub Group is also planning to expand the hearing loops installations into stores in Egypt, Jordan and India.
Installation of the hearing induction loops at customer interaction points counts towards Chalhoub Group’s efforts in fulfilling the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of reducing inequalities.
Chalhoub Group operates a portfolio of eight owned brands and more than 300 international brands in the luxury, beauty, fashion and art de vivre categories.
Such iniativives have been widely embraced across the Mena region. For example, in September 2022, Majid Al Futtaim’s Carrefour Egypt became the first hypermarket in the region to launch simultaneous sign language interpretation.
