Abstract
Urban shopping malls are vital models where social and physical environments interact, impacting social participation. Therefore, this study explores the importance of applying Universal Design approach in shopping malls to achieve inclusivity and social integration. Universal design (UD) aims to improve accessibility for all individuals, regardless of their abilities or social characteristics, and it is a fundamental element in achieving social sustainability according to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The main objective of this study is to assess the compliance of the shopping mall under study with universal design standards through creating a study checklist and a questionnaire for the mall's visitors. thereby achieving sustainability, accessibility, and social integration for all. The study adopted descriptive-analytical, deductive, and applied approaches. The study was conducted in several stages, including a statement of the problem, objective setting, and data collection related to the UD for shopping malls. The results indicated that the inclusivity rate, as evaluated by the researcher using the checklist, was 69.79%, while the user inclusivity rate was 74.936%, both achieving a moderate "partial" level of UD. This indicates significant opportunities to improve certain design aspects to ensure a greater level of inclusivity. Such results reflect the importance of working on enhancing certain design aspects to achieve a more inclusive environment for the shopping Mall under the study, in line with universal design standards, contributing to the promotion