His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman Reviews Latest Preparations for the Seventh International Conference on Disability and Rehabilitation During Meeting with Scientific Committee

His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman, Special Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Salman Center for Disability Research, and President of the Seventh International Conference on Disability and Rehabilitation, met with members of the Conference Scientific Committee to review the progress of preparations and the latest developments in the scientific program.

The conference will be held under the gracious patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, under the theme "Intelligent Innovation for Sustainable Impact."

Review of the Scientific Program

During the meeting, HRH reviewed the work of the Scientific Committee and the conference's scientific program, including its main themes, panel discussions, invited speakers, submitted scientific papers, accompanying workshops, and agenda items. The review reflected the conference's dynamic scientific activity and reinforced its position as an international platform for knowledge exchange and the sharing of expertise.

Scientific Participation Statistics

HRH also reviewed the conference's participation statistics. The conference has attracted more than 523 scientific submissions through its electronic platform, in addition to more than 40 local and international speakers.

Speakers from within the Kingdom account for 60% of the total, while 40% are international speakers representing the United States, Canada, Germany, and Singapore.

The distribution of scientific submissions by field was also presented, with the scientific and social category leading with 234 submissions, followed by the rehabilitation category with 152 submissions, the technology category with 71 submissions, and the medical category with 66 submissions. The evaluation process also involves 30 peer reviewers.

AI Hackathon for Persons with Disabilities

HRH was also briefed on the latest developments of the Artificial Intelligence Hackathon for Persons with Disabilities, which has attracted remarkable participation, with 2,251 participants forming 918 teams across four main tracks.

The Daily Living and Assistive Technologies track attracted the highest number of entries with 336 teams, followed by the Health and Rehabilitation track with 316 teams, the Education and Access to Knowledge track with 144 teams, and the Hajj and Umrah Services track with 122 teams.

The strong participation reflects the growing interest in developing innovative solutions that empower persons with disabilities and enhance their quality of life.

“Audacity Toward the Future” 

His Royal Highness also reviewed preparations for the “Audacity Toward the Future” track, one of the conference’s flagship tracks. The track will feature a series of specialized sessions with leading local and international speakers and experts, highlighting global best practices, future trends, and innovations in the fields of disability and rehabilitation. It aims to foster a culture of innovation, keep pace with technological transformation, anticipate future solutions, and deliver sustainable impact.

Emphasis on the Quality of Scientific Outcomes

HRH stressed the importance of continuing to work in accordance with the highest scientific and organizational standards to ensure the integration of the scientific program’s themes and the quality of its content. He also emphasized the conference’s role in strengthening scientific partnerships, facilitating knowledge transfer, and exploring innovative solutions that contribute to advancing the disability and rehabilitation ecosystem.

Conference Supervisory Committee

The conference and its Supervisory Committee are chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Special Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Salman Center for Disability Research. H.E. Dr. Majed bin Ibrahim Al-Fayyadh serves as Secretary-General of the Conference.

The Supervisory Committee includes H.E. Dr. Muneer bin Mahmoud Al-Desouki, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST); H.E. Dr. Bandar bin Abdulmohsen Al Knawy, President of King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences; H.E. Dr. Hala bint Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri, President of the Human Rights Commission; Dr. Hisham bin Mohammed Al-Haidari, Chief Executive Officer of the Authority for the Care of Persons with Disabilities; Eng. Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al-Kenhal, Chief Strategic Affairs Officer at stc Group; Nader bin Sami Al-Kuraia, Chief Executive Officer of Riyad Bank; Asaad bin Hamza Al-Jamouei, Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Saudi Arabia; Sulaiman bin Saleh Al-Dakhil, Director General of the Gulf Health Council; and Dr. Badr bin Saad Al-Hajhouj, Committee Rapporteur and Chairman of the Conference Preparatory Committee.

Scientific Committee Members

The Scientific Committee comprises a distinguished group of experts in disability, rehabilitation, and scientific research. It is chaired by Dr. Saleh bin Hamad Al-Wasel and includes Dr. Talal bin Ahmed Al-Sudairi, Dr. Ali bin Nasser Al-Othaib, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Khuraif, Dr. Ghadeer bint Abdulaziz Al-Muhaini, Dr. Nayef bin Abed Al-Zarea, and Dr. Madawi bint Mohammed Al-Dhuwaiyan.