Article 12 of the Saudi Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law
المادة 12 من نظام حقوق الأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة · الباب الثاني: الحقوق والخدمات
The article establishes the right of persons with disabilities to have their requirements taken into account in tourism, entertainment, cultural and sports activities, supporting their sports programs and their participation in local, regional and international events.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة الحق في مراعاة متطلباتهم عند تصميم وتنفيذ الأنشطة والبرامج والفعاليات السياحية والترفيهية والثقافية والرياضية، ويشمل ذلك دعم البرامج الرياضية الخاصة بهم وتمكين مشاركتهم في المحافل المحلية والإقليمية والدولية، وتصدر الجهات المعنية -بالتنسيق مع الهيئة- أدلة إرشادية لتنفيذ أحكام هذه المادة.
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 12 explained in plain English
This article addresses the right of persons with disabilities to take part in public life beyond basic services. It establishes their right to have their requirements taken into account when designing and carrying out activities, programs and events that are:
- Tourism.
- Entertainment.
- Cultural.
- Sports.
In sports specifically, this includes two things:
- Supporting their own sports programs.
- Enabling their participation in local, regional and international events.
To implement this, the relevant bodies, in coordination with the Disability Care Authority, issue guidance manuals. The article does not specify the content of these manuals.
The practical meaning is that taking persons with disabilities into account starts at the design stage, not after the event is held: the organizer of an event or activity should take their requirements into account from the start. This is consistent with Article 1, which says that "services" include cultural and sports services.
This article comes after Article 11 on the facilities of the Two Holy Mosques and mosques, and before Article 13, which requires government and non-government bodies to work on raising societal awareness of disability. Anyone with a question about applying these provisions can consult a lawyer specializing in the rights of persons with disabilities or in administrative cases.
Practical example
A company in Riyadh is organizing an entertainment festival. Under Article 12, it should take into account the requirements of visitors with disabilities when designing and carrying out the festival, guided by the manuals that the relevant bodies issue in coordination with the Authority.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Al-Safwa Law Office and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 12 of the Saudi Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law
Must entertainment events take persons with disabilities into account?
Yes. The article establishes their right to have their requirements taken into account when designing and carrying out tourism, entertainment, cultural and sports activities, programs and events.
Does the Law support sports for persons with disabilities?
Yes. The article provides for supporting their own sports programs and enabling their participation in local, regional and international events.
Who issues the guidance manuals for this article?
The relevant bodies issue them in coordination with the Disability Care Authority.
More articles on Social Support and Prosthetic Devices
- Article 13
The article requires government and non-government bodies to work on raising societal awareness of disability and its types, strengthening the standing of persons with disabilities and publicizing their rights and abilities, and refers the mechanism to the Regulations.
على الجهات الحكومية وغير الحكومية العمل على رفع الوعي المجتمعي بالإعاقة وأنواعها وتعزيز مكانة الأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة في المجتمع، والتعريف بحقوقهم وقدراتهم وإسهامات
- Article 15
The article establishes the right of persons with disabilities and their families to social support services that help them adapt to the disability and achieve integration into society, and refers the mechanism to the Regulations.
للأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة وأسرهم الحق في الحصول على خدمات الدعم الاجتماعي التي تساعدهم على التكيف مع الإعاقة وتحقق لهم الاندماج المجتمعي. وتحدد اللائحة آلية تنفيذ أحك
- Article 16
The article establishes the right of persons with disabilities to obtain prosthetic and assistive devices and medical aids according to their condition, and leaves the lists of devices, the mechanism for providing them and each body's responsibility to the Regulations.
يحق للأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة الحصول على الأجهزة التعويضية والمساعدة والمعينات الطبية بحسب الحالة الصحية ومتطلبات الإعاقة. وتضع اللائحة قوائم بتلك الأجهزة وآلية صرفها
- Article 17
The article provides that the State bears the customs duties and taxes on tools and devices for persons with disabilities, according to a list issued by the Authority in agreement with the relevant bodies and reviewed periodically.
تتحمل الدولة الرسوم الجمركية والضرائب المفروضة على الأدوات والأجهزة الخاصة بالأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة، وتصدر الهيئة قائمة بتلك الأدوات والأجهزة بالاتفاق مع الجهات الم
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.