Employment of people with Down Syndrome

Believing in the ability of young people with Down syndrome to excel and in their right to receive opportunities and prove themselves just like all other sons and daughters of our nation, we at McDonald’s Saudi Arabia have continued our efforts to train them and provide them with job opportunities. These efforts have achieved clear success and created a noticeable positive change in their lives. Our journey began in 2006 with the joining of our first employee with Down syndrome to our family, and today we are proud to have reached 150 employees.

Programs to Build Their Abilities

Building Their Abilities... Building Their Future

Training, empowering, and developing the abilities of children with Down syndrome is the cornerstone of our initiatives dedicated to this cherished group. Our goal is to help them achieve greater independence, improve their social adaptation, enhance their sensory and vocational skills, and strengthen their language and functional abilities. To achieve this, McDonald’s has partnered with highly qualified specialized charitable organizations to provide tailored training programs for children with Down syndrome. So far, 1,951 children have benefited from these programs, supported with an amount of nearly 15 million Saudi riyals.

McDonald’s Programs to Enhance the Language and Functional Skills of Children with Down Syndrome, in cooperation with the DSCA Association in Riyadh, aim to enable children to use effective communication methods, develop conversational skills, and improve their vocational and daily living abilities. A total of 952 children have attended and benefited from these programs, with overall support amounting to 7,363,618 Saudi riyals.

McDonald’s Self-Help and Reading and Writing Programs, in cooperation with the Saut Association in Riyadh, aim to train children with Down syndrome to carry out daily life tasks with greater independence, interact and integrate with others, and develop their reading and writing skills. A total of 686 children with Down syndrome have benefited from these programs, with support exceeding 5,384,521 Saudi riyals.

McDonald’s Madarek and Mahara Programs, in cooperation with the Efaa Association in the Eastern Province, aim to develop the sensory and vocational abilities of children with Down syndrome by providing training plans that strengthen their skills and professional capabilities and enhance their understanding of sensory concepts.

A total of 33 children with Down syndrome have benefited from these programs, with support amounting to 200,382 Saudi riyals.

McDonald’s Language Competency and Independent Skills Programs, in cooperation with the Eradah Association in the Eastern Province, aim to develop language skills and speech abilities related to independent communication. More than 280 children have benefited from these two programs, with support exceeding 1,600,777 Saudi riyals.

Charitable Campaigns to Support Them

Giving Without Limits

Giving is not limited to a specific occasion. It is an ongoing commitment to our community. Through our charitable campaigns, we come together to create genuine smiles and leave an impact that touches hearts before numbers.

Annual Ramadan Charity Campaign: “Your Support Brings Happiness to You and Them”

As an extension of the charitable and awareness initiatives organized by McDonald’s Saudi Arabia, we launched this annual campaign, which involves selling educational and awareness storybooks for children in our restaurants during the holy month of Ramadan.

The proceeds from these storybooks are donated to three specialized Down syndrome organizations: The Voice of Down Syndrome Society Association (SAUT), the Down Syndrome Charitable Association (DSCA), and the EFAA Association. The purpose of this campaign is to support individuals with Down syndrome across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Their Recreation

Their Joy Is Our Joy

At McDonald’s Saudi Arabia, we make it a priority to share in the special occasions of our beloved children with Down syndrome and to bring happiness and joy to their hearts. We work to spread moments of delight among them, and for this purpose, we have supported many recreational events dedicated to them. Among these are:

Celebrating the 95th National Day with Over 1,600 Children with Down Syndrome from 30 Centers and Charitable Associations

September 2025

We joined in the joy of celebrating the 95th Saudi National Day with over 1,600 children from 30 different centers and charitable associations across nine regions in the central, eastern, and northern parts of the Kingdom, including Riyadh, Dammam, Khobar, Al Ahsa, Al Kharj, Arar, Turaif, Rafha, and Sakaka. We provided free meals, gifts, and games for our beloved children and adults with Down syndrome, making the celebration a truly joyful occasion for all.

Back to School Celebration with Over 800 Children with Down Syndrome from 13 Centers and Charitable Associations Across Four Cities

August 2025

We celebrated the start of the 2025–2026 school year with over 800 children with Down syndrome from 13 centers and charitable associations across Riyadh, Khobar, Al Ahsa, and Sakaka. During the celebration, we provided free meals and games for our beloved children and adults with Down syndrome, making the back-to-school experience joyful and memorable for all.

Eid al Adha is more special with children with Down syndrome

June 2025

We celebrated Eid al-Adha with over 100 children from the Efaa Association for Special Needs in Riyadh. We provided gifts and free meals to the children, sharing joy and making the holiday truly special for them.

Celebrating Success and the End of the 2024–2025 School Year with Our Beloved Children with Down Syndrome

May 2025

In a joyful and heartwarming atmosphere, we celebrated the success and end of the school year with over 200 children with Down syndrome. We shared in their happiness by distributing gifts, games, and free meals, making the occasion truly special for our beloved children.

Eid al Fitr Celebration with Our Beloved Children with Down Syndrome Across Several Cities and Regions of the Kingdom

April 2024

In an atmosphere full of fun and joy, we celebrated Eid al Fitr with over 450 children from 7 centers and charitable associations across Riyadh, Al Kharj, and the Eastern Province. We provided free meals, organized games, and distributed gifts among our beloved children and adults with Down syndrome. The children and their families expressed their happiness, making this annual McDonald’s celebration a memorable occasion for all.

Celebrating World Down Syndrome Day with over 920 children with Down syndrome from 12 centers and charitable associations

March 2025

On the occasion of World Down Syndrome Day, we shared joy and happiness with over 920 children with Down syndrome from 12 charitable associations and centers across Riyadh and Dammam. We provided them with meals, gifts, and games to bring happiness to their hearts and encourage interaction and engagement between them and their communities.

Celebrating Saudi Arabia’s Founding Day with Children with Down Syndrome

February 2025

We celebrated Saudi Arabia’s Founding Day under the theme “The Day We Began” and shared this special occasion with over 1,000 children across 21 centers and charitable associations in the central, eastern, and northern regions of the Kingdom. We provided free meals and games to our beloved children and adults with Down syndrome.

Sponsoring the 6th Sports Championship for People with Special Needs with Over 350 Champions with Down Syndrome

January 2025

We sponsored the 6th Sports Championship for People with Special Needs at the Green Sports Halls, organized by the Friends of People with Disabilities Association. The championship included over 350 champions with Down syndrome from 25 charitable associations and centers, competing in running, cycling, and swimming events. We provided free meals and gifts to all participants, making the event enjoyable and memorable for everyone.

Participation in the “Race” Event for Children with Down Syndrome in Celebration of the International Day of People of Determination

December 2024

We participated in sponsoring a running event for children with determination in the Hail region to celebrate the International Day of People with Determination. Over 150 children of various ages took part in the race, and McDonald’s provided free meals and games to all participants, making the event fun and memorable for everyone.