Government officials and representatives from Arab and Gulf countries convened in Dhofar on September 16 and 17 for the fourth edition of the Living Independently Initiative for Persons with Disabilities, focusing on employment, entrepreneurship, and the role of technology in promoting inclusion. The two-day event brought together policymakers, international organisations, business leaders, innovators, and people with disabilities to address barriers to economic participation and independent living.
The conference opened under the patronage of HH Sayyid Marwan bin Turki al Said, Governor of Dhofar. Key themes included artificial intelligence, assistive technologies, digital accessibility, workplace inclusion, and private-sector engagement.
Dr Abdullah bin Hamoud al Harthi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development for Persons with Disabilities Affairs, emphasized the growing importance of AI and advanced technologies in expanding opportunities for persons with disabilities to engage actively in society and the knowledge economy. He outlined Oman’s approach under Oman Vision 2040, which prioritizes the participation of people with disabilities and aims to move beyond conventional service provision toward fostering genuine independent living. Al Harthi stressed that people with disabilities should be central partners in policymaking and innovation, serving as the benchmark for evaluating progress.
Wafa Bani Mustafa, Jordan’s Minister of Social Development and Chair of the 45th Session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, highlighted economic empowerment as a fundamental aspect of disability inclusion. She called for a shift from viewing employment solely as a social responsibility or legal requirement to recognising it as both a right and an investment in human potential. Bani Mustafa noted that persistent barriers—such as inaccessible workplaces, inadequate public services, digital platforms lacking accessibility, and recruitment practices not tailored to individual capabilities—must be dismantled to enable full participation. She also cautioned that technology could create new obstacles if accessibility is not integrated from the design stage, urging that persons with disabilities be involved not only as users but also as creators and contributors in the digital economy. While Arab countries have advanced disability legislation and policies, she said, the focus must now turn to effective implementation and tangible improvements in people’s lives.
Representing the League of Arab States, Minister Plenipotentiary Tarek Nabil al Nabulsi underscored the increasing emphasis on innovation, AI, economic empowerment, and social responsibility within the initiative. He highlighted the potential contributions of the private sector and the Union of Arab Chambers in supporting entrepreneurship and business ventures involving persons with disabilities.
The Executive Bureau of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs similarly called for enhanced regional coordination on employment, rehabilitation, digital accessibility, and social protection. The bureau stressed the need to establish clearer pathways linking rehabilitation and skills development to employment and entrepreneurship, while fostering stronger collaboration among governments, private sector entities, and civil society.
The Living Independently Initiative continues to promote inclusive policies and technologies aimed at improving economic participation and independent living for people with disabilities across the Arab world and Gulf region.