The King Salman Center for Disability Research

Name

The King Salman Center for Disability Research

Legal name

King Salman Center for Disability Research (مركز الملك سلمان لأبحاث الإعاقة)

Website

https://kscdr.org.sa

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Research and Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research Administration & Compliance (Sponsored Programs, IRB/REB) (EDADAKAH), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Disability research services
• Accessibility guidelines
• Assistive technology research
• Rehabilitation training programs
• Early intervention screening

Headquarters

HQ city

Riyadh

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Charitable Donations: As a royal-founded research center, the organization operates primarily through government funding and charitable donations from founders and partners. The center was established under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and receives ongoing royal support.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The King Salman Center for Disability Research is a non-profit research organization that conducts specialized scientific research on disability, develops accessibility guidelines for built environments and transportation, funds innovation in assistive technology and AI for persons with disabilities, and delivers training programs for specialists. It operates national surveys (mental health, newborn screening), runs research funding programs, hosts international conferences, and partners with top global universities to advance the field of disability research in the Arab and Islamic world.

Product overview

The King Salman Center for Disability Research operates as a comprehensive research and programs organization focused on addressing disability through scientific research, innovation, and capacity building. The Center offers a multi-faceted portfolio including research funding programs (Targeted Research Program, ADIP, Innovation Valley), international partnerships (with Top 100 universities), conferences and awards (ICDR, KSADR), specialized programs (Universal Accessibility Guidelines, Inclusive Parks Guide, Saudi National Mental Health Survey, Newborn Screening), and professional training. The portfolio is organized around three strategic pillars: building a comprehensive disability database, targeting high-impact and invisible disabilities, and advancing cutting-edge research in nanotechnology, robotics, and cell therapy. The Center positions itself as a national and global leader in disability research, supporting innovation from early concept through commercialization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• King Salman International Award for Disability Research (KSADR): International award for disability research
• AI Hackathon for People with Disabilities
• Daring Toward the Future Program / Audacious Disability Innovation Program (ADIP)
• Innovation Valley Program (برنامج وادي الابتكار)
• Targeted Research Program
• International Scientific Partnership Program
• Saudi National Mental Health Survey
• Newborn Screening Program

Products and services

• Research Portfolio Comprehensive research support, coordination, management, and funding for disability-related scientific research, addressing causes, prevention, early detection, and intervention.
• Training Programs Training programs and continuing education for special education teachers, therapists, behavioral analysts, healthcare providers, and families covering applied behavior analysis, early intervention, assistive technology, and workplace accommodation.
• Universal Accessibility Guidelines Program National program providing comprehensive guidelines, standards, and requirements for universal accessibility covering built environment, land transportation, destinations and accommodations, and marine transportation.
• Newborn Screening Program Early screening program for newborns to detect disabilities and enable early intervention.
• Saudi National Mental Health Survey National survey conducted as part of the WHO World Mental Health Survey Initiative to assess mental health status in Saudi Arabia.
• Inclusive Parks Guide Comprehensive guide on designing and creating parks that meet the needs of children with disabilities, based on seven universal principles of inclusive design.
• Reports on Bridging Gaps Reports providing accurate analyses and practical strategies to address gaps in disability-related areas including education, healthcare, community integration, and assistive technology.
• Innovation Valley Program (Wadi Al-Ibtikar) Specialized research and applied program aimed at transforming innovative ideas into practical and commercial solutions with scientific and economic impact, supporting prototype development and manufacturing.
• Daring Toward the Future Program (ADIP) Specialized initiative designed to fund and support cutting-edge research creating transformative solutions for individuals with disabilities, fostering groundbreaking discoveries and innovative technologies.
• Targeted Research Program Program investing in scientific knowledge to drive meaningful and sustainable change in the lives of persons with disabilities, focusing on priority research addressing actual challenges.
• Research and Innovation Groups Collaborative research groups focused on specific disability topics that study, research, and publish results in recognized open-source scientific journals indexed in Web of Science.
• Centers of Excellence Centers of excellence established in partnership with research and educational institutions across Saudi Arabia to address disability challenges, supporting high-quality scientific publishing and accelerating innovation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 728 completed research projects
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AlphaIotacoreTechnology or Integration · 24 June 2026King Salman Center for Disability Research signed a Memorandum of Understanding with AlphaIota to strengthen collaboration in data and artificial intelligence. This partnership aims to enhance research capabilities through advanced data analytics and AI technologies serving persons with disabilities.
• Tatweer Educational Services CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026Cooperation agreement to strengthen research-education integration, combining academic research capabilities with educational service delivery.
• International Universities (Top 100)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2024International Scientific Partnership Program connecting researchers from international universities ranked in top 100 (Shanghai Ranking) with peers in Saudi Arabia. Includes knowledge transfer, joint research, and scientific publication goals. H-index requirement of 25 for participating researchers.
• Zayed Higher Foundation for People of DeterminationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2020Cooperation agreement between King Salman Center for Disability Research and Zayed Higher Foundation for People of Determination to collaborate on disability research and services.
• Research and Educational InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenters of Excellence initiative partnering with institutions having integrated research infrastructure to complete disability research projects, leveraging equipment, human capabilities, and scientific competencies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (formerly Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago): Leading US translational rehabilitation research hospital focused on disability and recovery. Comparable in applied research-to-clinical-application model and translational disability research, though operates in a clinical rather than policy context.
• AbilityNet: UK-based non-profit focused on disability and assistive technology, providing accessibility guidance, research, and training. Comparable in accessibility guideline development, training programs, and assistive technology focus for persons with disabilities.
• National Disability Authority (Ireland): Irish state agency providing evidence-based advice on disability policy and practice. Comparable as a government-affiliated disability research and policy advisory body with accessibility standards development and research dissemination functions.
• Kessler Foundation: Major US non-profit disability research and rehabilitation organization funding research in mobility, cognition, and employment. Comparable as a non-profit research funder with established scientific output and translational programs for persons with disabilities.
• Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination: UAE-based government-affiliated organization providing disability services, rehabilitation, and research. Already a strategic cooperation partner of KSCDR; comparable in regional scope, royal/governmental backing, and breadth of disability programs across the Gulf.
• National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR): US federal disability research agency that funds and conducts research on disability, rehabilitation, and independent living. Directly comparable as a government-affiliated, grantmaking disability research institution with similar mandates in research funding, training, and knowledge translation.

Regional players

• Al Jalila Foundation: UAE non-profit foundation funding medical research and healthcare innovation. Comparable as a Gulf-region philanthropic research funder with similar royal patronage model and grantmaking structure, though focused on broader medical research rather than disability specifically.

Broad incumbents

• King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST): Saudi Arabia's national science agency and largest research funder. Comparable as a Saudi government research institution with broader mandate across all sciences; KSCDR operates in a more specialized disability-focused niche within this national research ecosystem.
• King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre: Saudi tertiary care hospital with major research institute focused on health and biomedical sciences. Comparable as a Saudi institution combining clinical/health services with research, though at much larger scale and broader health focus than KSCDR's disability specialization.

Others

• World Health Organization (WHO) - Disability Programme: Global health agency whose disability programme KSCDR's Saudi National Mental Health Survey directly participates in through the WHO World Mental Health Survey Initiative. Comparable as a policy and survey-standards partner rather than a direct competitor; sets global frameworks KSCDR aligns with.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kscdr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/king-salman-center-for-disability-research-kscdr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The King Salman Center for Disability Research