Saudi Arabia’s Authority for the Care of People with Disabilities has launched the sixth edition of Purple Saturday, supported by government entities, private-sector companies and nonprofit organizations, as the initiative expands to several Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
The campaign aims to improve quality of life and accessibility for people with disabilities while encouraging businesses and service providers to create more inclusive customer experiences.
Discounts, Benefits and Better Accessibility
Purple Saturday encourages retailers and service providers to offer special discounts and benefits to people with disabilities, while also adopting accessibility standards and developing a better understanding of disabled customers’ needs.
The initiative extends beyond commercial offers, promoting broader inclusion and encouraging organizations to remove barriers that can affect access to products, services and participation in economic and social activities.
From a Saudi Initiative to Gulf Participation
Purple Saturday was first launched in 2021 and has expanded steadily, with the number of participating organizations increasing over successive editions.
The sixth edition marks a significant milestone as several GCC countries participate for the first time, extending the initiative’s reach beyond the Kingdom.
The Authority for the Care of People with Disabilities aims to continue expanding the campaign, with the long-term ambition of developing Purple Saturday into a global event promoting empowerment, inclusion and international best practices in accessibility.
Purple Saturday Award Introduced
This year also marks the launch of the Purple Saturday Award, designed to recognize organizations and initiatives making notable contributions to the campaign’s objectives.
The award covers four categories: best commercial offer, best initiative or event, best nonprofit initiative, and coverage of people with disabilities.
The continued expansion of Purple Saturday highlights growing cooperation between government, businesses and nonprofit organizations to create more accessible and inclusive environments and strengthen the participation and independence of people with disabilities across society.
