Article 6 of the Saudi Public Transport Users Regulation
المادة 6 من لائحة حقوق والتزامات مستخدمي وسائل النقل العام
The article establishes the right of persons with disabilities and limited mobility to transport service. It allows refusal only for health and safety requirements or impossibility of meeting their needs, and requires telling them of an alternative.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لكل شخص من الأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة وذوي القدرة المحدودة على الحركة، الحق في الحصول على الخدمة، ولا يجوز رفض تقديم الخدمة له إلا في الحالتين الآتيتين:
1- إذا كان الرفض مرتبطًا بمتطلبات الصحة والسلامة وفقاً لما تحدده الهيئة.
2- استحالة تقديم الخدمة في حال عدم إمكانية توفير المتطلبات الخاصة بهم في وسيلة النقل أو مرافق النقل.
وفي هاتين الحالتين، وفي حال توفّر خدمة بديلة تتوافق مع احتياجاته؛ يبلغ بذلك.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 6 explained in plain English
This article establishes an express right: every person with a disability and every person with limited mobility has the right to receive the service.
The rule: the service may not be refused except in two cases only:
- If the refusal is related to health and safety requirements as specified by the Authority. The standard is not the employee's own judgment but what the Transport General Authority specifies.
- The impossibility of providing the service where their special requirements cannot be met in the means of transport or the transport facilities.
Duty to inform of the alternative: in both cases, if an alternative service that meets the person's needs is available, the person must be informed of it. A lawful refusal therefore does not end the matter if a suitable alternative is available.
The two cases are exhaustive, so the service may not be refused for any other reason relating to disability or limited mobility.
The article connects to Article 5, which requires the carrier to equip the means of transport that the Authority specifies with the necessary equipment for these groups, and Article 7 adds other rights for these groups, such as help boarding and alighting and reserving a seat for a companion where available.
Anyone with an actual problem with a carrier would be well advised to consult a lawyer specializing in civil cases and compensation.
Practical example
A passenger who uses a wheelchair arrived at a ferry terminal, and it turned out that the scheduled ferry could not be adapted for the chair. Service on that ferry may be refused because it is impossible to meet the passenger's requirements, but if another sailing on an equipped ferry that meets the passenger's needs is available, the passenger must be informed of it.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 6 of the Saudi Public Transport Users Regulation
May a person with a disability be refused transport?
Only in two cases: if the refusal relates to health and safety requirements as specified by the Authority, or if it is impossible to provide their special requirements in the means of transport or its facilities.
What happens if a person with a disability is refused service?
If an alternative service that meets the person's needs is available, the person must be informed of it.
Does the right cover people with temporarily limited mobility?
Yes. The right is established for persons with disabilities and persons with limited mobility, who are people with an injury or temporary condition that prevents them from walking without assistance.
More articles on Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Transport
- Article 5
The article requires the carrier to equip the means of transport that the Authority specifies with the tools and equipment needed to serve persons with disabilities and persons with limited mobility.
يهيئ الناقل وسيلة النقل -التي تحددها الهيئة- بالأدوات والتجهيزات اللازمة لخدمة الأشخاص من ذوي الإعاقة وذوي القدرة المحدودة على الحركة.
- Article 7
In addition to the rights in Article 8, the article gives persons with disabilities and limited mobility further rights, including fare exemptions and discounts, accessible information, help boarding and alighting, a seat reserved for a companion, and bringing a service animal.
يحق لكل شخص من الأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة وذوي القدرة المحدودة على الحركة –بالإضافة إلى الحقوق المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثامنة) من اللائحة- الآتي: 1- الاستفادة من أي
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.