In this Law, the following terms shall have the meanings assigned thereto, unless the context requires otherwise:

• Disabled Person: Any person suffering from a permanent, total or partial, impairment affecting his senses, or his physical, mental, communicative, learning, or psychological abilities, to an extent that reduces his ability to perform daily activities compared to a non-disabled person.

• Disability: Suffering from one or more of the following impairments: Visual impairment, hearing impairment, mental disability, physical and motor disability, learning disabilities, speech disorders, behavioral and emotional disorders, autism, double and multiple disabilities, and other disabilities that require special care.

• Prevention: The set of medical, psychological, social, educational, informational, and legal measures enforced for the prevention, limitation, or early detection of disabilities as well as limiting their effects.

• Care: Comprehensive care services offered to any disabled person in need of care due to his health condition, degree of disability, or social status.

• Rehabilitation: A coordinated process to utilize medical, social, psychological, educational, and professional services for the purpose of empowering disabled persons to achieve the maximum potential of their functional efficiency so as to empower them to meet the requirements of their natural and social environment and develop their capabilities to become self-reliant and effective members in the community to the extent possible.

• The Supreme Council: The Higher Council for the Affairs of Disabled Persons.

The State shall guarantee the rights of disabled persons to access prevention, care, and rehabilitation services, and shall encourage institutions and individuals to participate in charitable activities for the disabled. Such services shall be provided to disabled persons by the competent authorities as follows:

• 1. Health Services:

• Including:

  • a) provision of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services, including providing preventive genetic counselling, conducting various examinations and laboratory tests for the early detection of diseases, and administering necessary immunizations;

  • b) registering and monitoring cases of high-risk newborns and reporting the same to the competent authorities;

  • c) taking necessary measures to improve the quality of health care provided to disabled persons;

  • d) training workers in the health sector and those responding to accidents on dealing with the injured and providing them with emergency care during their transportation from the scene of the accident; and

  • e) training the families of disabled persons on providing care to them.

• 2. Educational Services:

  • Educational services include providing educational services at all levels (preschool, general, technical, and higher education) in a manner that suits the capabilities and needs of disabled persons and facilitates their enrolment, in addition to the continuous assessment of the curricula and services provided.

• 3. Training and Rehabilitation Services:

  • These include providing training and rehabilitation services in accordance with the type and degree of disability and labor market requirements, including the provision of vocational and social rehabilitation centers and appropriate training means.

• 4. Employment Services:

  • Employment services include employment in jobs that are suitable to the abilities and qualifications of disabled persons thereby enabling them to discover their potential and earn a living as other members of the society, as well as enhancing their work performance through training.

• 5. Social Services:

  • Social services include programs that contribute to the development of the capabilities of disabled persons to achieve integration in various aspects of public life and reduce the negative effects of disability.

• 6. Cultural and Sports Services:

  • Cultural and sports services include making cultural and sports programs and facilities accessible to disabled persons to facilitate their participation in local and international events.

• 7. Media Services:

• Media services include raising awareness through audio, visual, and print media in the following areas:

  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​a) Raising awareness on disability, its types and causes, as well as detection and prevention methods.

  • ​​​​​​​ b) Improving the image of disabled persons in the society, and raising awareness of their rights, needs, abilities, and contributions, as well as the services available to them, their duties towards themselves, and their role in the community.

  • c) Allocating programs that target disabled persons to ensure their integration in the society.

  • d) Encouraging individuals and organizations to provide material and moral support to disabled persons, and promoting voluntary work for their benefit.

• 8. Complementary Services:

• Including:

  • a) provision of safe and suitable public transportation means at discounted rates for disabled persons and the persons accompanying them, depending on the nature of the disability;

  • b) provision of day and home care services; and

  • c) provision of supporting equipment.

The Supreme Council shall, in coordination with the competent authorities, set the engineering and architectural conditions and specifications that meet the needs of disabled persons in rehabilitation, training, educational, and care and treatment facilities, and in public places and other locations intended to achieve the purposes of this Law, provided that the relevant agency issues the necessary implementing decisions.

The Supreme Council shall, in coordination with educational and training institutions, qualify and train national manpower in the field of disability, within the Kingdom and abroad, and exchange expertise in this field with other countries as well as relevant Arab and international organizations and bodies.

The State shall grant disabled persons, whether individually or collectively, soft loans to initiate professional or commercial businesses that suit their abilities.

Devices and equipment designed for disabled persons shall be exempted from customs duty, provided that they are identified in a list agreed upon with the Ministry of Finance and National Economy.

A fund under the Council shall be established for the care of disabled persons in which donations, gifts, bequests, endowments, and fines for violations to the regulations governing the services provided to disabled persons, shall be deposited.

A supreme council for disabled persons shall be established, reporting to the Prime Minister. It shall be composed as follows:

• ● A President, appointed pursuant to a royal order, and the following members:

• ● The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs.

• ● The Minister of Health.

• ● The Minister of Education.

• ● The Minister of Finance and National Economy.

• ● The General President of Girls’ Education.

• ● The Minister of Higher Education.

• ● The Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs.

• ● The Secretary-General.

• ● Two disabled persons, two businessmen concerned with the affairs of disabled persons, and two specialists in the field of disability, appointed by the Prime Minister based on a recommendation by the President of the Supreme Council for a term of four renewable years.

The President of the Supreme Council may designate one of the members to act on his behalf in his absence.

The Supreme Council shall set the general policy in the field of disability and regulate the affairs of disabled persons, and shall, in particular, assume the following:

• a) Issue the regulations and decisions necessary for the implementation of this Law.

• b) Propose amendments to the statutory provisions relating to the affairs of disabled persons in various fields; propose rules relating to the benefits and financial support provided to disabled persons or their caretakers; and propose the imposition or amendment of fines.

• c) Monitor the implementation of this Law and its regulations, and monitor the implementation of provisions related to the disabled in other relevant laws and regulations.

• d) Coordinate between government agencies and the private sector with respect to the services provided to disabled persons.

• e) Encourage research on the scope, types, and causes of disability, as well as prevention, treatment, and management methods to overcome or limit its negative effects, and identify the professions most appropriate for the training and rehabilitation of disabled persons as is suitable to the degree and type of disability as well as labor market requirements.

• f) Encourage organizations and individuals to establish programs and charitable organizations for the care and rehabilitation of disabled persons.

• g) Review annual progress reports issued by relevant government agencies on prevention, rehabilitation, and care services provided to disabled persons, and take necessary measures.

• h) Issue regulations for the acceptance of donations, gifts, bequests, and endowments.

• i) Issue work rules for the Disability Welfare Fund. j) Issue bylaws to regulate the work procedures of the Council.

• k) Provide an opinion on international conventions relating to disabled persons, and on the Kingdom's accession to regional and international organizations concerned with the affairs of disabled persons.

The Supreme Council shall submit an annual report to the President of the Council of Ministers on its activities, the condition of disabled persons, the services provided to them, and the difficulties encountered, and on the support for services provided to the disabled.