Anas Khalid

Saudi Arabian inventor democratizing prosthetic technology through affordable 3D printing

Anas Khalid is a biomedical engineer whose 3D-printed prosthetics have made life-changing differences for amputees across the Middle East. Growing up in Jeddah with a congenitally disabled sibling, he witnessed the financial burden of traditional prosthetics firsthand. This inspired his 2020 invention of Arms for All, a modular prosthetic system that reduces costs by 80% using locally sourced materials and open-source designs.

By 2023, his team had distributed over 5,000 prosthetic limbs across 12 countries, with 70% going to children under 12. Khalid's innovation lies in the system's adaptability - components can be easily replaced or upgraded as children grow. The technology's open-source nature allows workshops in places like Gaza and Yemen to produce limbs locally, bypassing international supply chain issues.

Recognized as a 2022 Rolex Young Laureate, Khalid's work intersects with refugee crises and war zones where limb loss is prevalent. His partnership with UNHCR established 15 regional fabrication centers in conflict zones by 2024. The system's design won the James Dyson Award in 2021 for its engineering elegance and social impact.

Khalid advocates for "prosthetic justice" through his TEDx talk "Building a Better Future, One Limb at a Time", emphasizing technology's role in human dignity. His latest venture, Wearable Tech for All, aims to apply similar principles to exoskeletons for paralysis patients. With a vision to make advanced prosthetics as accessible as smartphones by 2030, Khalid's work redefines what's possible in assistive technology.