Guide
Digital accessibility laws in the Arab world
A simple summary of the laws, policies and standards in all 22 Arab countries, based on our Digital Accessibility Adoption Map. Choose any country to see what it means for your websites, apps and documents.
Last reviewed: November 2026
Levels
How we rate each country
Legal requirement
A binding law or regulation requires digital accessibility. (3 countries)
National policy or standard
An official policy or standard exists, often based on WCAG. (3 countries)
Emerging
Disability law covers access to information, with some initiatives. (13 countries)
Limited
No formal digital accessibility framework found. (3 countries)
All countries
All 22 Arab countries in one table
| Country | Status | Main law or policy | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | National policy or standard | National Digital Accessibility Policy (2024) | WCAG 2.1 AA; UAE Design System (AEGOV) |
| Saudi Arabia | Legal requirement | Law of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Royal Decree No. M/27) (2023) | WCAG 2.1 AA (government platforms) |
| Qatar | Legal requirement | Law No. (22) of 2025 on Persons with Disabilities (2025) | WCAG 2.0 (government web framework); WCAG 2.1 (promoted by Mada) |
| Bahrain | Emerging | Law No. 74 of 2006 on the Care, Rehabilitation and Employment of the Disabled (2006) | W3C guidelines (National Portal, version not stated) |
| Oman | National policy or standard | Law of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Royal Decree No. 92/2025) (2025) | WCAG 2.0 (e-Accessibility Policy); MTCIT Digital Accessibility Guideline (2025) |
| Kuwait | National policy or standard | Law No. 8 of 2010 on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2010) | National Code for Digital Access (2018, update in progress) |
| Jordan | Legal requirement | Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities No. 20 of 2017 (2017) | WCAG 2.1 (MoDEE Government Websites Guidelines 2022) |
| Lebanon | Emerging | Law No. 220/2000 on the Rights of Disabled Persons (2000) | None yet |
| Syria | Limited | Legislative Decree No. 19 of 2024 on the rights of persons with disabilities (2024) | None yet |
| Palestine | Emerging | Law No. 4 of 1999 on the Rights of the Disabled (1999) | None yet |
| Iraq | Emerging | Law No. 38 of 2013 on Care of Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs (2013) | None yet |
| Yemen | Limited | Law No. 61 of 1999 on the Care and Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (1999) | None yet |
| Egypt | Emerging | Law No. 10 of 2018 on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2018) | None yet |
| Libya | Emerging | Law No. 5 of 1987 on Disabled Persons (1987) | None yet |
| Tunisia | Emerging | Orientation Law No. 2005-83 on the Promotion and Protection of Persons with Disabilities (2005) | WCAG 2.1 AA (national e-services portal only) |
| Algeria | Emerging | Law No. 02-09 on the Protection and Promotion of Persons with Disabilities (2002) | None yet |
| Morocco | Emerging | Framework Law No. 97-13 on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2016) | None yet |
| Mauritania | Limited | Ordinance No. 2006-043 on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) | None yet |
| Sudan | Emerging | Persons with Disabilities Act 2017 (2017) | None yet |
| Somalia | Emerging | National Disability Agency law (2018) | None yet |
| Djibouti | Emerging | Law No. 207/AN/17/7ème L on the rights of persons with special needs (2017) | None yet |
| Comoros | Emerging | Law No. 14-037 on the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities (2014) | None yet |
Select a country name to read its page, or see the countries on the Digital Accessibility Adoption Map.
Key findings
What we found
The Gulf leads
Saudi Arabia and Qatar have legal requirements, and the UAE, Oman and Kuwait have national policies or standards.
WCAG is the base
Every national standard we found is based on WCAG, usually version 2.0 or 2.1.
Government first
Most rules apply to government entities, and many expect their suppliers to meet the same standard.
Disability laws open the door
Even countries without a digital standard have disability laws that include the right to access information.
Our advice
Which standard should you follow?
We recommend WCAG 2.2 AA in every Arab country. It is the latest version, it covers the WCAG 2.0 and 2.1 requirements that national standards use, and it prepares you for future updates.
For documents, use PDF/UA together with WCAG. See our standards guide.
En français
Accessibilité numérique au Maghreb
Maroc : la loi-cadre n° 97-13 (2016) protège les droits des personnes en situation de handicap, mais ne fixe pas de norme pour le web. L’Agence de Développement du Digital (ADD) et la CESAO des Nations unies ont préparé un plan national d’accessibilité numérique.
Algérie : la loi n° 02-09 (2002) et le décret exécutif n° 06-455 (2006) portent surtout sur les bâtiments et les transports. Aucune norme d’accessibilité numérique n’a été trouvée.
Tunisie : la loi d’orientation n° 2005-83 est en cours de révision et il n’existe pas de norme nationale. Le portail national des services en ligne (idaraty.tn) vise le niveau WCAG 2.1 AA.
Mauritanie : l’ordonnance n° 2006-043 protège les droits des personnes handicapées. Aucun cadre d’accessibilité numérique n’a été trouvé.
Nous recommandons le niveau WCAG 2.2 AA pour les sites, les applications et les documents en arabe et en français. Nous répondons à toute demande sous 1 jour ouvré : contactez-nous.
Questions
Common questions
Which Arab countries require digital accessibility by law?
In our rating, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan have legal requirements. Others, such as the UAE, Oman and Kuwait, have national policies or standards.
Is WCAG required in the Arab world?
National standards in several countries are based on WCAG, usually for government entities. We recommend WCAG 2.2 AA in every country.
Do these rules apply to private companies?
Most rules apply to government entities, but disability laws in several countries cover public services, and many government bodies require their suppliers to meet the same standard.
How often is this page updated?
We review the data regularly. The last review date is shown at the top of the page.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is a plain-language summary for information only. Check the official texts or a legal adviser before making decisions.
Working across several Arab countries?
One standard, WCAG 2.2 AA, helps you meet the requirements in different countries. We reply within 1 working day.