Mohammed Al-Muallim

A Saudi Arabian Paralympic athlete and advocate for disability rights who reshaped perceptions of accessibility in the Middle East

Mohammed Al-Muallim, born in 1992 in Riyadh, is a Paralympic powerlifter and disability rights activist who has transformed societal attitudes toward disabilities in Saudi Arabia. Losing both legs in a traffic accident at age 12, Al-Muallim turned to sports, winning bronze at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio. His advocacy led to the 2019 implementation of Saudi Arabia’s first comprehensive disability rights law, mandating accessibility in public spaces. Al-Muallim also founded Enable Saudi, a nonprofit providing prosthetics and vocational training. His memoir, Unbroken Will, details his journey and remains a banned title in some conservative regions, underscoring his controversial yet impactful influence. In 2021, he collaborated with UNICEF on a campaign featured in this documentary, highlighting child disability rights globally.