Arab Reading Challenge winners to be crowned on Oct. 23

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, will crown winners of the Arab Reading Challenge on Thursday, October 23, in a glittering ceremony at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

“Next Thursday, we celebrate 32 million students from 132,000 schools who took part in the ninth edition of the world’s largest reading competition," highlighted Sheikh Mohammed.

“The fact that millions of students work hard to read 50 books every year is proof that passion for knowledge is inexhaustible," His Highness said, adding, "reading is the path to reclaim civilisation, and that the Arabic language will remain integral to our nation’s identity, spirit and future".

Launched by Sheikh Mohammed in 2015, the Arab Reading Challenge as the largest-ever Arab literacy initiative. It aims to promote reading among students across the Arab world and beyond and nurture the love for the language.

Organised by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), the ninth edition of the challenge saw the participation of more than 32 million students from 50 countries, representing 132,112 schools and supported by 161,004 supervisors.

Apart from the Arab Reading Champion, winners of several categories, including ‘People of Determination’, ‘Best School’, ‘Outstanding Supervisor’ and ‘Community Champion’ will also be announced.

The Arab Reading Champion will be awarded AED 500,000 while the winner in the 'People of Determination' category will take home AED 200,000. The 'Best School' will win AED 1 million, while 'Outstanding Supervisor' award will take home AED 300,000 and AED 100,000 awaits the 'Community Champion'.

Nominees for Arab Reading Champion:

Adam Al Rawdani (Morocco), AlGhala Abdullah Al Hajeri (Qatar), Edris Ali Alyami (KSA), Baraa Mohammed Saeed (Djibouti), Mohammed Ahmed Al Hassanin (Al Azhar Al Sharif), Hiba Abu Baker (Palestine), Taghreed Mohammed (Egypt), Ghaleya Naser Al Anazi (Kuwait), Mohammed Jassim Ibrahim (Bahrain), Mariam Mohammed Shamekh (Mauritania), Lamar Tariq Al Jaafreh (Jordan), Abdulrazzaq Al Asmar (Lebanon), Reem Adel Al Zarouni (UAE), Aysha Nizar Kazim (Iraq), twin Bisan an Baylasan Kouka (Tunisia), Nuha Taha Abdulsalam (Libya), Rahaf Sami Abdullah (Yemen) and Nardeen Fadi Issa (Syria).

Nominees for People of Determination category:

Weam Shakouk (Morocco), Ali Nasser Dalmouk (Qatar), Rafeef Mohammed Al Senani (KSA), Mohammed Reda Suleiman (Al Azhar Al Sharif), Hala Abdullah Salahuddin (Palestine), Basmala Salahuddim Suleiman (Egypt), Rasha Salman Al Khalaf (Kuwait), Fatima Kazim Mohammed (Bahrain), Layan Adnan Manasrah (Jordan), Thulfiqar Ali Sabra (Lebanon), Abdullah Ahmed Al Dhanhani (UAE), Maria Hassan Ojail (Iraq), Rahma Budann (Tunisia), Moyaadulhaq Ali Al Zain (Libya), Anhar Abdulkarim Abdulrahman (Yemen) and Mohammed Turba Dar (Syria).

Nominees for Best School: 

Fatima Al Andalusia School (Morocco), Bilal bin Rabah School (Qatar), Ibn Khaldoun Primary School – Al Nafal (KSA), Al Atara Secondary School for Girls (Palestine), Balkim Primary School (Egypt), Abraq Khaitan Middle School (Kuwait), Al Hidd Intermediate School (Bahrain), Tarablus Al Haddadin School (Lebanon), Al Fajr Modern School (Mauritania), Atika bint Zaid School – 1st Cycle (UAE), Hafir Al Mahr School (Tunisia), Qaraqra Intermediate School (Libya) and Al Bayan Model School (Syria).

Nominees for Outstanding Supervisor:

Al Saadiya Azado (Morocco), Ali Salim Saffouri (Qatar), Maha Saeed Al Thubaiti (KSA), Rana Farid Salmi (Palestine), Sahar Misbah (Egypt), Fatima Salem Muhsin (Kuwait), Shaikha Mohammed Al Rumeihi (Bahrain), Osama Al Safi (Jordan), Inath Baydoun (Lebanon), Khadija Mohammed Bezied (Mauritania), Zahra Hamad Ibrahim (UAE), Aliyya Bu Ishaq (Tunisia), Bashir Mohammed Al Eisawi (Libya) and Rashad Salem Ahmed (Syria).