RIYADH: The King Salman Center for Disability Research has launched the AI Hackathon for People with Disabilities as part of the upcoming 7th International Conference on Disability and Rehabilitation in Riyadh.
The initiative coincides with the Kingdom’s designation of 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence and reflects its efforts to use advanced technologies to support people with disabilities and improve their quality of life.
The hackathon underscores the center’s role in promoting research, innovation and sustainable solutions in the disability sector, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
It brings together experts, researchers, innovators, developers, and entrepreneurs from Saudi Arabia and abroad to create smart technologies that address challenges faced by people with disabilities and to support their inclusion in society.
The hackathon focuses on four tracks; everyday life and assistive technologies, health and rehabilitation, education and access to knowledge, and Hajj and Umrah services, with participants developing AI-powered solutions to improve accessibility and enhance the overall experience for people with disabilities.
Prince Sultan bin Salman, special adviser to King Salman and chairman of the center, said that the hackathon reflected the leadership’s support for people with disabilities and its commitment to enabling them to benefit from technological advances and contribute to national development.
The program offers scientific and technical mentorship, funding opportunities and partnerships to support project sustainability and help to turn promising ideas into practical solutions that improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Participants are taking part in workshops and idea-development sessions from June 14-22, covering robotics and rehabilitation, adaptive learning, AI-driven universal design and educational technologies. The sessions are designed to refine concepts and prepare teams for the next stage.
Qualified teams will be announced on June 25, followed by an acceleration and intensive training phase from July 1 to Sept. 1. During this period, participants will receive mentorship, technical guidance and support to develop their projects into viable solutions.
Finalists must submit a prototype, demo video, presentation deck and impact report by Sept. 15. The hackathon will conclude in Riyadh from Oct. 11-13, where shortlisted projects will be evaluated and winners announced during the conference.
A total prize pool of SR220,000 ($59,000) has been allocated to encourage innovation in assistive technologies and AI-driven solutions for people with disabilities.
In the individuals category, first place will receive SR45,000 and second place SR30,000. In the companies and organizations category, the winner will receive SR75,000 and second place SR50,000. An additional SR20,000 special award will be given to winning participants with disabilities.
