Article 17 of the Saudi Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law
المادة 17 من نظام حقوق الأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة · الباب الثالث: الدعم الاجتماعي والاقتصادي
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تتحمل الدولة الرسوم الجمركية والضرائب المفروضة على الأدوات والأجهزة الخاصة بالأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة، وتصدر الهيئة قائمة بتلك الأدوات والأجهزة بالاتفاق مع الجهات المعنية، وتراجع القائمة دوريًّا.
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 17 explained in plain English
This article eases the financial burden on persons with disabilities for the tools and devices they need, and provides the following:
- The State bears the customs duties and taxes imposed on tools and devices for persons with disabilities.
- These tools and devices are specified in a list issued by the Disability Care Authority in agreement with the relevant bodies.
- The list is reviewed periodically, as it may change by adding tools, devices or otherwise.
Note that the article says the State bears these duties and taxes, and does not state how this works in practice, nor the procedures the importer or buyer follows. The provision is also tied to the list: the article gives no indication that a tool or device not appearing in it is covered.
This article complements Article 16, which establishes the right of persons with disabilities to obtain prosthetic and assistive devices and medical aids according to their condition, and refers their lists and the mechanism for providing them to the Regulations. It is followed by Article 18 on banking, financing and insurance services.
Anyone with a shipment or a device who wants to know whether this provision applies can refer to the Authority's list, or consult a lawyer specializing in the rights of persons with disabilities or in administrative cases.
Practical example
A family in Jeddah imports an electric wheelchair for their son. If this wheelchair is included in the list issued by the Disability Care Authority, Article 17 makes the State bear the customs duties and taxes imposed on 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 17 of the Saudi Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law
Are customs duties paid on devices for persons with disabilities?
The article provides that the State bears the customs duties and taxes imposed on the tools and devices for persons with disabilities that appear in the list.
Who determines which devices are covered?
The Disability Care Authority issues a list of them in agreement with the relevant bodies, and reviews it periodically.
Is the list fixed?
No. The article provides for reviewing the list periodically.
More articles on Social Support and Prosthetic Devices
- Article 12
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.
للأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة الحق في مراعاة متطلباتهم عند تصميم وتنفيذ الأنشطة والبرامج والفعاليات السياحية والترفيهية والثقافية والرياضية، ويشمل ذلك دعم البرامج الرياضي
- 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
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.