Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al-Fahad

A Saudi Arabian activist who pioneered disability rights and inclusion in the Gulf region

Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al-Fahad (born 1978) is a Saudi Arabian disability rights advocate who transformed accessibility in the Arabian Peninsula. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age three, he became the first Saudi with a disability to earn a university degree (Political Science, King Saud University, 2002). His advocacy led to the National Policy for Accessibility, enacted in 2018, which mandates public space modifications.

Al-Fahad founded the Saudi Disability Forum in 2005, which has trained over 10,000 people in disability awareness. He pioneered the Accessible Hajj Project, ensuring pilgrims with disabilities could participate in the annual pilgrimage. His documentary series showcasing disabled Saudis' lives has been viewed over 5 million times.

His work extends to economic empowerment: he created the Workability Program, placing 1,200 disabled Saudis in government and corporate jobs. In 2019, he advised the Saudi Vision 2030 initiative's disability inclusion strategy. His viral social media campaign #MyAccessibilityStory challenged stereotypes, earning support from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Al-Fahad's achievements include the UN DESA Award (2017) and honorary doctorate from Birzeit University (Palestine, 2020). He's collaborated with organizations like Handicap International and the Arab Disability Alliance. His memoir Breaking Barriers in Saudi Arabia: A Disability Journey (2021) details his advocacy.

His greatest impact lies in shifting societal attitudes: pre-2010, 80% of Saudis believed disabled people shouldn't work; today that's reversed to 65% support. Al-Fahad's model of combining legal advocacy with cultural campaigns has inspired similar movements in UAE and Qatar. As he states, 'Accessibility isn't charity—it's enabling human potential.' His work proves that systemic change requires both policy reform and cultural transformation.