An authority called "Authority for Persons with Disabilities" is established under this regulation, which is organizationally linked to the Minister of Labor and Social Development. It enjoys legal personality, as well as financial and administrative independence, with its main headquarters located in the city of Riyadh. It has the authority to establish branches or offices within the Kingdom as needed.

The Authority aims to care for persons with disabilities and ensure their access to rights related to their disabilities, as well as to enhance the services provided to them by relevant agencies, which helps them receive the necessary care and rehabilitation. The Authority also aims to raise the level of prevention and take the necessary procedures for that in coordination and cooperation with relevant entities, and to define the roles of agencies concerning the care of persons with disabilities.

• The authority shall have a Board of Directors chaired by the Minister of Labor and Social Development, with the membership of:

  • 1- A representative from the Ministry of Health as a member. 

  • 2- A representative from the Ministry of Labor and Social Development as a member. 

  • 3- A representative from the Ministry of Finance as a member. 

  • 4- A representative from the Ministry of Economy and Planning as a member. 

  • 5- A representative from the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs as a member. 

  • 6- A representative from the Ministry of Education as a member. 

  • 7- Two persons with disabilities as members. 

  • 8- Two guardians of persons with disabilities as members. 

• The president shall appoint from among the council members someone to act on his behalf in presiding over the hearing, and the rank of the representatives of government agencies must not be less than the (fourteenth) rank, or its equivalent. The remuneration of the members shall be determined by a decision of the Council of Ministers. A decision shall be issued by the Council of Ministers to name the individuals referred to in paragraphs (7) and (8) of this article.

• The Council is the authority that dominates the affairs of the General Panel, manages it, and conducts its affairs. It makes all necessary decisions to achieve its purposes within the framework of the provisions of the law, and it has, in particular, the following:

• 1 - Approving the policies of the General Panel, its programs, and its operational plans within the framework of the general plans of the state.

• 2 - Proposing draft laws related to the competencies of the Panel and suggesting amendments to those in effect.

• 3 - Approving the organizational structure of the Panel.

• 4 - Approving the administrative and financial regulations that govern the Panel and other internal regulations necessary for its operations in agreement with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Civil Service.

• 5 - Forming committees and granting them the necessary powers to accomplish the tasks assigned to them.

• 6 - Approving the establishment of branches or offices for the Panel.

• 7 - Approving the conclusion of agreements, protocols, and contracts, according to the applicable legal procedures.

• 8 - Accepting wills, gifts, donations, endowments, assistance, and subsidies offered to the Panel.

• 9 - Adopting indicators that measure the volume and quality of services provided by the agencies.

• 10 - Approving the draft budget of the Panel, its final account, the auditor's report, and the annual report, in preparation for submitting them according to the applicable legal procedures.

• 11 - Appointing an external certified auditor and an internal financial controller.

• The Council may delegate some of its powers to any of the officials it deems appropriate within the Panel.

1- The meetings of the Council are held at the headquarters of the Authority, and upon the request of the President of the Council, they may be held at another location within the Kingdom.
2- The Council shall meet at least (four) times a year at the invitation of its President, and whenever necessary, and the President must call for a meeting whenever requested by at least three members, and the invitation must include the agenda of the meeting.
3- Meetings of the Council are held in the presence of at least a majority of the members, including the President of the Council or his Deputy.
4- Each attending member has one vote, and decisions are made by a majority of the votes of the attending members of the Council at least, and in the event of a tie, the side that the President of the meeting votes for shall prevail, and the dissenting member may record his objection and reasons in the minutes of the meeting.
5- A member may not abstain from voting or delegate another to vote on his behalf in his absence.
6- The deliberations and decisions of the Council are recorded in minutes signed by the President of the meeting and the attending members, and the Authority shall communicate these decisions to the relevant parties directly in an appropriate manner.
7- The Council may invite anyone it deems necessary to listen to their opinion, without having the right to vote.
8- The President of the Council issues the necessary rules for the work of the Council and the manner of holding its meetings.

• The Authority shall have a Chief Executive Officer appointed by a Decision from the Council, which shall specify his salary and other financial benefits. He shall be responsible for managing the Authority, and his responsibilities shall be limited to what is stipulated in the regulations and what is approved by the Board of Directors. In particular, he shall have the following powers:

  • 1- Supervising the workflow in the Authority through the approved regulations, plans, and programs.

  • 2- Proposing the general policies of the Authority related to its activities, and the necessary plans and programs for their implementation, and submitting them to the Council.

  • 3- Preparing the draft annual budget of the Authority and the draft final account, and submitting them to the Council.

  • 4- Representing the Authority before the Judiciary and with government agencies, institutions, and other public bodies related to it, as well as other entities inside and outside the Kingdom, and he has the authority to delegate others as he sees fit.

  • 5- Proposing the necessary regulations to facilitate the work of the Authority, and approving the work procedures based on the regulations and decisions issued by the Council.

  • 6- Disbursing from the approved budget and taking all financial actions in accordance with the approved systems and regulations and the powers delegated to him by the Council.

  • 7- Preparing reports on the implementation of the Authority's plans and programs, studying them, and presenting them to the Council.

  • 8- Preparing the annual report on the Authority's activities and the obstacles it faced, and proposing appropriate solutions, and submitting it to the Council.

  • 9- Signing agreements, protocols, and contracts after obtaining the Council's approval.

  • 10- Organizing the Authority's participation in regional and international conferences, events, and festivals.

  • 11- Issuing the necessary decisions to implement the provisions of the regulations and the regulations issued thereunder, as well as the approved rules and procedures, according to the powers granted to him.

  • 12- Appointing employees in the Authority in accordance with the regulations and supervising them.

  • 13- Approving the plans and programs necessary for training the Authority's personnel, sending them abroad, and dispatching them in all areas of its work, and following up on their implementation.

  • 14- Exercising any powers granted to him by the Council's decisions and the specific regulations of the Authority.

  • 15- Communicating with government and private agencies.

  • 16- Contracting for the execution of works, services, and others, in accordance with the systems and powers delegated to him by the Council.

  • 17- Any other powers assigned to him by the Council.

• The President may delegate some of his powers to whomever he sees fit among the Authority's personnel.

The Chief Executive Officer shall have a Deputy (or more) appointed by a decision of the Council based on the nomination of the Chief Executive Officer; the Deputy shall carry out the duties in accordance with the powers granted to him by the Chief Executive Officer within the limits prescribed by the regulations, and the Council's decision shall specify his salary and benefits.

The authority submits an annual report to the Prime Minister regarding its performance, the status of persons with disabilities, the services provided to them, and the challenges faced in supporting the services offered to them.