Legal Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Saudi Arabia 2026: Complete Guide

This guide is a legal and practical reference to the rights guaranteed by Saudi regulations for persons with disabilities (hearing, visual, motor, mental, and intellectual). It relies on the Care for Persons with Disabilities Law issued by Royal Decree M/37 of 1421 AH, and its subsequent amendments.

First: the digital Disability Card

The card is the key to all rights. Without it you can't benefit from discounts, exemptions, or support.

Issuance conditions

• Saudi citizen or resident (some services are citizen-only).
• Certified medical report from a major government hospital or accredited diagnostic centre documenting disability type and grade.
• Disability grade documented by percentage: mild, moderate, severe.

Issuance steps

| Step | Detail | |---|---| | 1 | Gather medical reports from your treating physician | | 2 | Visit an accredited diagnostic centre (e.g., King Salman Center or a government hospital) | | 3 | Obtain a comprehensive diagnostic report | | 4 | Open Sehhaty → "Disability" → "Card Request" | | 5 | Upload reports | | 6 | Application review by the Authority of Persons with Disabilities (APD) | | 7 | Card issued digitally in Tawakkalna and Absher |

Issuance duration: typically 15-30 working days.

Second: health rights

Specialised healthcare

• Free at government hospitals for citizens.
• Medical devices: wheelchairs, hearing aids, prosthetics — provided by the health sector or associations.
• Medical and functional rehabilitation: physical therapy, speech therapy, motor rehab — free at specialised centres.

Psychological and social support

• Rehabilitation centres provide psychological support to the individual and family.
• Specialised associations for each disability type (hearing, visual…).

Third: financial support

Comprehensive Rehabilitation

• Who qualifies: Saudi families with a documented disabled member.
• Support value: varies by disability grade, beneficiary age, and family status.
• URL: sbis.hrsd.gov.sa → Comprehensive Rehabilitation.

Social welfare stipend

• Who qualifies: families supporting a severely disabled person.
• Value: added to Social Security.

Driver and helper stipend

• Who qualifies: severely disabled persons who need a driver or home helper.
• Disbursement: via Comprehensive Rehabilitation.

Device and modified vehicle purchase support

• Right: support for buying a vehicle equipped with driving devices suited to a motor disability.
• Procedure: via the Ministry of HRSD or specialised associations.

Fourth: education

Right to education

• Mandatory: government schools must admit students with mild and moderate disabilities under inclusion.
• Severe disability: specialised schools (Al-Amal for deaf, Al-Noor for blind).
• Student's school: as close to their residence as possible.

University education

• Right to university education on equal terms.
• Accommodations: Braille files, sign-language interpreter, extra time in exams.
• Scholarships: available with suitable conditions.

Special education schools

• Al-Amal Institutes: for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.
• Al-Noor Institutes: for the blind and low-vision.
• Intellectual Education Institutes: for intellectual disabilities.

Fifth: employment

Right to work

• Source: Saudi Labour Law and the Care for Persons with Disabilities Law.
• Right: work in public and private sectors without discrimination.

Employment quota

• Requirement: private establishments with 25+ workers must employ a percentage of persons with disabilities.
• Currently: at least 4% of employees.
• Incentives: establishments with disabled employees count them as Saudi nationals in Nitaqat.

Protection from dismissal

• Prohibited to dismiss due to disability.
• Promotion: on equal criteria to other employees.
• Workplace accommodations: providing equipment, adjusting hours if needed.

Vocational rehabilitation

• Vocational rehab centres train on suitable professions.
• Doroob offers accessible free e-courses.
• Hadaf fund supports employing persons with disabilities.

Sixth: mobility and access

Parking

• Designated parking for persons with disabilities at public facilities.
• Use: requires showing the Disability Card or the vehicle sticker.
• Violating it: a traffic offence.

Special licence

• Right: obtaining a driving licence for a modified vehicle for motor disabilities.
• Procedure: specialised medical exam + training at an equipped centre.

Public transport

• Right: free or subsidised transport for disabled students.
• Planes and trains: boarding accommodations, priority seating, discounts (per carrier).

Building accessibility

• Requirement: all new public buildings must be accessible (elevators, ramps, restrooms, signage).
• Complaint: an inaccessible facility can be reported to the municipality.

Seventh: legal protection

Protection from harm

• Source: Protection from Harm Law and Care for Persons with Disabilities Law.
• Right: filing a harm complaint via 1919 or protection shelters.
• Judicial protection: urgent priority hearing.

Guardianship and power of attorney

• Right: appointing a legal proxy via Najiz.
• Guardianship of minors: follows general provisions with the disabled person's interest in mind.

Court testimony

• Right: giving testimony in one's language (like sign language for the deaf).
• Interpreter: provided by the court for free.

Eighth: exemptions and discounts

Government exemptions

| Fee | Exemption | |---|---| | Traffic and violations fee for a modified vehicle | Specific exemptions | | Some municipal fees | By case | | ID and passport issuance fees | Per regulations | | Special-licence issuance fee | Specific exemptions |

Special discounts

• Airlines: discounts for Saudi persons with disabilities on Saudi carriers.
• Haramain and Riyadh trains: discounts.
• Some museums and recreational facilities: free or discounted entry.

Ninth: responsible authorities

| Authority | Role | |---|---| | Authority of Persons with Disabilities (APD) | Official reference for policies and card issuance | | Ministry of HRSD | Comprehensive Rehabilitation and stipends | | Ministry of Health | Medical care and rehabilitation | | Ministry of Education | Education and inclusion | | King Salman Center for Disability Research | Research and diagnosis | | Specialised associations | Qualitative care |

Tenth: procedures when a right is violated

Employment discrimination:

• Complaint via Qiwa.

Missing accessibility in a public building:

• Complaint to the municipality or the government Tawasul platform.

Refusal of treatment or care mistreatment:

• Complaint to the Council of Health Insurance (CCHI) or Ministry of Health.

Refusal of school enrolment:

• Escalation to the Ministry of Education.

Harm or neglect:

• Call 1919 or protection shelters.

Related articles

• Developed Social Security
• Hadaf fund — full programme guide
• Sehhaty — the complete guide
• Legal rights of Saudi women

Sources:

• Authority of Persons with Disabilities — apd.gov.sa
• King Salman Center for Disability Research — kscdr.org.sa
• Care for Persons with Disabilities Law
• Ministry of HRSD — hrsd.gov.sa