Dhofar forum puts jobs, AI at centre of disability inclusion

SALALAH, SEPT 16
Arab and Gulf officials called on Wednesday for stronger employment, entrepreneurship and technology-driven opportunities for people with disabilities, arguing that economic participation should become a central measure of progress towards independent living.
The call came at the opening of the fourth edition of the Living Independently Initiative for Persons with Disabilities in Dhofar, where artificial intelligence, assistive technologies, workplace inclusion and private-sector participation emerged as key themes.
The two-day gathering, held on September 16 and 17, brings together government officials, Arab and international organisations, businesses, innovators and people with disabilities. Its programme covers employment, entrepreneurship, digital accessibility, data security and the use of technology to support greater independence.
The opening was held under the patronage of HH Sayyid Marwan bin Turki al Said, Governor of Dhofar.
Dr Abdullah bin Hamoud al Harthy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development for Persons with Disabilities Affairs, said artificial intelligence and advanced technologies were becoming essential tools for widening participation in society and the knowledge economy.
He said Oman’s approach, within Oman Vision 2040, placed people at the centre of development and sought to move independent living beyond the provision of conventional services.
“People with disabilities are not merely the subject of this initiative; they are its partners, its compass and the measure by which the value of everything we discuss and seek to achieve should be judged,” Al Harthy said.
He called for independent living to become a principle in policymaking, a standard for evaluating services and a direction for innovation.
EMPLOYMENT AS ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION
Wafa Bani Mustafa, Jordan’s Minister of Social Development and Chair of the 45th Session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, placed economic empowerment at the centre of the debate.
She said employment should not be treated simply as a social responsibility or legal obligation, but as a right and an investment in human capabilities.
Bani Mustafa said the focus should increasingly shift towards identifying and removing barriers that prevent people with disabilities from entering employment, accessing services and making independent choices.
Those barriers can include inaccessible workplaces and public services, digital systems that fail to accommodate different needs and recruitment practices that do not adequately recognise individual capabilities.
She also cautioned that technology itself could create new barriers if accessibility was not built into digital services and products from the outset.
People with disabilities, she said, should be regarded not only as users of technology, but as participants in its design, innovators and contributors to the digital economy.
Arab countries had made progress in disability-related legislation and policy, she said, but the next challenge was implementation and measurable outcomes.
“We must move from measuring what we provide to measuring what actually changes in people’s lives,” she said.
PRIVATE SECTOR AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Speaking on behalf of the League of Arab States, Minister Plenipotentiary Tarek Nabil al Nabulsi said the initiative was placing greater emphasis on technology, innovation, artificial intelligence, economic empowerment and social responsibility.
He highlighted the potential role of the private sector and the Union of Arab Chambers in supporting entrepreneurship and business initiatives involving people with disabilities.
The Executive Bureau of the GCC Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs also called for stronger Gulf coordination on employment, rehabilitation, digital accessibility and social protection.
Its address stressed the importance of building clearer pathways from rehabilitation and skills development into employment and entrepreneurship, while strengthening cooperation between governments, businesses and civil society.
Officials also called for common indicators to help measure the effectiveness of disability inclusion policies across the region.
One of the forum’s main sessions focuses specifically on social responsibility and economic empowerment, including public-private partnerships in employment, workplace inclusion and the role of companies in creating accessible career opportunities.
The accompanying exhibition features government initiatives, university and youth innovation projects, assistive-technology companies, entrepreneurs and institutions presenting practical solutions designed to improve accessibility and independent living.
The programme continues on Thursday with workshops on entrepreneurship, financing, digital accessibility and the use of artificial intelligence and assistive technologies in vocational rehabilitation.
The discussions reflect a broader shift in disability policy from service provision towards participation — with employment, entrepreneurship and access to technology increasingly treated as key components of economic inclusion.