Riyadh, July (پاکستان پوائنٹ نیوز 25 يوليو 2026ء) Operating under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, APD's work is anchored in the Kingdom's endorsement of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Cabinet's approval of the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the strategic goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Among the Kingdom’s flagship programs is the 'Purple Saturday' initiative, designed to boost the economic empowerment of persons with disabilities by engaging them as active consumers, encouraging the private sector to adapt services to their needs, and highlighting their substantial purchasing power. The event takes place annually on the last Saturday of July—a timeframe specifically chosen to focus on disability inclusion without distraction, as international awareness days are spread throughout the year and July offers a dedicated window for impact.
Since its inception in 2021, the initiative has grown into a major national milestone. The 2025 edition saw the activation of over 220 business partners, more than 4,500 retail branches across all 13 Saudi regions, landmark illuminations, and specialized customer service training programs. Recognizing its societal impact, the initiative received the National Dialogue Award as well as the Best Customer Experience Innovation Award from the Saudi Customer Experience Association.
Following a September 2022 decision by the GCC Committee of Ministers of Social Affairs/Development to expand inclusive community models, 'Purple Saturday' evolved into a regional framework. Bahrain joined the initiative in 2024, followed by Qatar in 2025, and it will expand further this year in 2026 with the participation of Oman and Kuwait.
APD Spokesperson Khalid Khabrani told the Saudi Press Agency that the initiative has evolved beyond basic commercial discounts to become a platform that promotes accessibility and inclusion. He added that APD works year-round to qualify participating entities through specialized workshops in physical and digital accessibility, enhancing the overall experience for beneficiaries.
To further incentivize excellence, APD introduced the Purple Saturday Award in 2025, honoring distinguished contributions across four categories: Best Commercial Presentation, Best Initiative Event, Non-Profit Sector Initiative, and Coverage of Persons with Disabilities. The inaugural edition received over 60 applications and recognized 15 winners.
As the sixth annual 'Purple Saturday' takes place on July 25, 2026, the initiative stands as an inspiring, highly replicable Saudi model for regional and global empowerment.
