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ShareUnder Royal Patronage, and in the very auditorium where the first International Conference on Disability and Rehabilitation was launched, under the theme “Intelligent Innovation for Sustainable Impact,” Riyadh returns today to the same venue after more than three decades, carrying ambitions that extend far beyond what was possible in the past: a child hoping to hear, another hoping to walk, and a family looking to science for answers that could make a difference in people’s lives.
On behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God protect him, His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, inaugurated today the 7th International Conference on Disability and Rehabilitation, organized by the King Salman Center for Disability Research from October 11 to 13, 2026, at the King Faisal Conference Center at the InterContinental Riyadh.
The opening ceremony was attended by His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Special Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Salman Center for Disability Research, and President of the 7th International Conference on Disability and Rehabilitation, alongside a number of royal highnesses, excellencies, distinguished guests, leading scientists, researchers, specialists, innovators, policymakers, and participants from Saudi Arabia and abroad.
The conference builds on a longstanding national and scientific commitment to disability and rehabilitation, at a time when Saudi Arabia is strengthening its research, development, and innovation ecosystem and advancing the use of modern technologies and artificial intelligence to address societal challenges facing persons with disabilities. It aims to translate research findings into practical solutions that improve their quality of life.
Prince Sultan bin Salman: Racing Against Time to Deliver Real Solutions That Transform the Lives of Persons with Disabilities
His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Special Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Salman Center for Disability Research, and President of the conference, stated that the seventh edition marks a new direction, with greater ambition and a transformative approach that seeks to keep pace with rapid global advances in medicine, technology, and science.
Prince Sultan expressed his gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, founder of the King Salman Center for Disability Research, for his generous patronage of the conference and continued support for disability-related initiatives and scientific research. He also welcomed HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, praising his attendance and continued support for successive editions of the conference.
He explained that Saudi Arabia’s scientific, technological, and research capabilities have enabled the Center to keep pace with these transformations and accelerate the development of practical solutions. The Center’s “Audacity Towards the Future” program reflects its commitment to research that goes beyond generating knowledge to delivering tangible, real-world outcomes that improve the lives of persons with disabilities, in collaboration with local and international research centers and hospitals.
Prince Sultan expressed pride in the Center’s scientific and national achievements and the initiatives resulting from its work that have contributed to improving services for persons with disabilities. He emphasized the importance of accelerating progress and harnessing emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and stem cell technologies, to address future challenges.
Prince Sultan bin Salman: All Award Candidates Are Winners Through Their Contributions to Humanity
Speaking about the King Salman Global Award for Disability Research, Prince Sultan highlighted its international standing, noting that it had attracted nominations from more than 111 countries and recognized distinguished scientists and researchers whose contributions align with the Center’s mission and ambitions.
Commenting on the award candidates, he said, “We consider them all winners today,” emphasizing the value of their scientific contributions and their potential to deliver tangible results for persons with disabilities, their families, and society.
He described the conference as a “very significant leap forward,” aligned with Saudi Arabia’s development journey and the objectives of Vision 2030. He reaffirmed the connection between these ambitions and the Center’s mission and motto, “Knowledge That Benefits People.”
From Genetics to Artificial Intelligence: Research That Touches Human Lives
The three-day scientific and dialogue program features keynote lectures, scientific and panel sessions, and specialized workshops covering health, medicine, rehabilitation, psychology, education, and social sciences, as well as genomic research, developmental disorders, assistive technologies, artificial intelligence, and universal accessibility. Researchers and experts from diverse disciplines and countries are participating.
A Unified National Profile: Toward Services That Understand Individual Needs
His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the first dialogue session, titled “The Unified National Profile: An Intelligent Interactive Platform Built on the National Registry of Persons with Disabilities.”
The session featured H.E. Eng. Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and Chairman of the King Salman Global Award for Disability Research Authority; H.E. Dr. Majid bin Ibrahim Al-Fayyadh, CEO of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre and Secretary-General of the conference; H.E. Dr. Muneer bin Mahmoud Eldesouki, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology; and H.E. Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).
The session was moderated by Dr. Hisham bin Mohammed Al-Haidari, CEO of the Authority for the Care of Persons with Disabilities. It highlighted efforts to consolidate data on persons with disabilities, integrate services and digital platforms, and explore the role of artificial intelligence in developing policies and services and supporting decision-making.
770 Nominations from 111 Countries: The World Comes to Riyadh to Celebrate Scientific Excellence
The conference will honor the winners of the fourth edition of the King Salman Global Award for Disability Research, which received 770 nominations from 111 countries across six continents. The award recognizes excellence across five categories: Health and Medical Sciences; Psychological and Educational Sciences; Rehabilitation and Social Sciences; Technological Applications in Disability; and Universal Accessibility.
159 Teams: Ideas Challenging Disability and Creating Solutions
As part of the accompanying activities, the Artificial Intelligence Hackathon for Persons with Disabilities aims to develop technological solutions based on real-world needs to promote independence and improve quality of life.
A total of 159 teams advanced to the acceleration stage, which lasted seven weeks under the guidance of specialized experts, in preparation for the final stage, where they will present their projects to judging panels.
Five National Partnerships: From Scientific Research to Tangible Impact
As part of the Center’s commitment to expanding institutional partnerships and translating research and innovation into practical applications, five memoranda and cooperation agreements with specialized national entities were announced during the conference.
These include a memorandum of understanding with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) to promote knowledge exchange in data, artificial intelligence, research and development, and training programs for persons with disabilities; and a cooperation memorandum with the National Institute of Health Research to advance translational research, clinical trials, and research capacity-building, alongside a joint initiative for health research in the field of disability.
Other strategic partnerships include a memorandum of understanding with the Saudi Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions to develop relevant standards, improve healthcare quality, and facilitate access to services for persons with disabilities; a cooperation agreement with the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property to develop the Center’s intellectual property policies and protect its research and innovation outputs; and a memorandum of understanding with the Disability Children’s Association to strengthen research, studies, training programs, and the exchange of expertise and data in accordance with applicable regulations. These efforts will support rehabilitation, early intervention, social inclusion, and improved quality of life for children with disabilities and their families.
A Conference for the Nation: Science in the Service of Humanity
The seventh edition brings together three complementary pillars: the conference facilitates the exchange of scientific knowledge and expertise, the award celebrates research excellence and its impact, and the hackathon provides a platform to test ideas and transform them into practical solutions and prototypes.
The conference continues through October 13, 2026, with scientific and dialogue sessions, workshops, and accompanying activities, reaffirming the Center’s “Audacity Towards the Future” approach and its commitment to harnessing research and innovation to enhance the independence, participation, and quality of life of persons with disabilities.
