Doha: In collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development and Family and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Qatar Tourism (QT), through its promotional arm Visit Qatar, is partnering with its stakeholders to launch the nation's first-ever Purple Saturday initiative in the State of Qatar.

According to Qatar News Agency, this high-impact initiative is dedicated to empowering people with special needs in society and will be held annually on the last Saturday of July, QT said in a statement on Sunday. The initiative, launched by the Authority of People with Disabilities (APD) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2021, is celebrated on the last Saturday of July every year. It has now been extended to cover the entire GCC region as a show of solidarity and unity.

Purple Saturday in Qatar unites stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to champion accessibility, raise awareness, and foster greater community participation, the statement read. As part of this initiative, QT through its promotional arm Visit Qatar will mark Purple Saturday at the Qatar Toy Festival with a dedicated celebration. People with disabilities will enjoy free access to the festival throughout its duration.

To support this initiative, 16 different Qatar Tourism stakeholders, which include retail stores and hotels, are offering exclusive discounts and adapted services for people with disabilities. Qatar Tourism invites the public to visit the Ministry of Social Development and Family official website to learn more about how to download the "Purple Saturday" digital card, which will be valid for use at participating stores and hotels from Jul. 26 to Aug. 1, 2025.

Purple Saturday is a key moment in a growing movement towards greater inclusivity, driven by multi-sector collaboration and a shared vision of accessibility.