Ahmad Saeed Al-Mufti

Blind Middle Eastern activist who revolutionized accessibility infrastructure

Born in 1978 Jordan, Ahmad Saeed Al-Mufti lost his vision at 14 due to genetic retinopathy. Despite societal stigma against disabilities in conservative Arab communities, he pioneered tactile pavement systems now used across 22 Arab nations. His "Hands See More" initiative (2005) trained 4,800 visually impaired individuals in coding through vibration-based interfaces.

Al-Mufti's barrier-free mosque design won the 2012 Aga Khan Award, integrating Quranic braille displays and directional sound systems. He pressured Gulf governments to implement Disability Inclusion Quotas in public sector jobs, increasing employment from 3% to 18% in Saudi Arabia (2014-2020).

During COVID-19 lockdowns, his ultrasonic navigation wearables enabled 134,000 disabled individuals to maintain independent mobility. Recent projects include developing aromatic wayfinding markers using regional spices like za'atar and frankincense for intuitive navigation.