The October 29 ceremony will recognise outstanding readers, schools and supervisors, with Dh500,000 for the overall champion.
Dubai will crown the winners of the 10th Arab Reading Challenge on October 29, following a record-breaking edition that attracted more than 40 million students from 60 countries.
The closing ceremony will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre under the patronage and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Organised by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), the competition encourages students to read widely, strengthen their Arabic-language skills and develop a lasting interest in literature and knowledge.
Arab Reading Challenge records highest participation
The 10th edition attracted 40,286,428 students across 60 countries, marking the highest participation in the initiative’s history. The figure represents a 24% increase from the previous edition, which recorded approximately 32.23 million participants from 50 countries.
A total of 138,426 schools and 161,507 supervisors took part. The competition also recorded 74,062 participants in the People of Determination category.
Overall participation represents approximately 48% of school students across the Arab world, reflecting the initiative’s growing reach among students and educational institutions.
Mohammad Al Gergawi, Secretary-General of MBRGI, said the initiative reflects Sheikh Mohammed’s vision of nurturing knowledgeable, open-minded generations by encouraging reading, cultural awareness and independent thinking.
The challenge has expanded considerably since its launch in 2015, when 3.6 million students participated in its first edition.
Dh500,000 for the overall champion
The overall Arab Reading Challenge champion will receive Dh500,000. The second-place winner will receive Dh100,000, while the third-place winner will be awarded Dh70,000.
The competition will also recognise achievements in four other categories: People of Determination Champion, Best School, Outstanding Supervisor and Community Champion.
In the People of Determination category, the first-place winner will receive Dh200,000, followed by Dh100,000 for second place and Dh50,000 for third place. Participants must read 25 books to qualify.
The Community Champion category is open to students living outside the Arab world, non-native Arabic speakers and those learning Arabic as a second language. The top three winners will receive Dh100,000, Dh70,000 and Dh30,000, respectively.
The school awarded the Best School title will receive Dh1 million, with Dh500,000 for second place and Dh300,000 for third place.
For the Outstanding Supervisor category, the prizes are Dh300,000 for first place, Dh100,000 for second and Dh50,000 for third.
The organisers said the total prize money awarded across the initiative’s 10 editions has reached Dh110 million, with Dh11 million allocated annually.
Finalists prepare for the closing ceremony
The overall championship finalists represent 17 countries and educational communities, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Tunisia, Libya, Lebanon, Yemen, Mauritania and Al Azhar Al Sharif.
Among the finalists are Khadija Bumelik from Morocco, Bana Omar Abdullah from Syria, Mayar Mohammed Ragab Othman from Egypt and Danah Adel Al Zarouni from the UAE.
Finalists have also been shortlisted in the People of Determination and Outstanding Supervisor categories. Schools from participating countries are competing for the Best School title.
The ceremony will bring together the country-level champions and recognise the students, educators and institutions that have contributed to the competition’s success.
Promoting reading beyond the classroom
Launched by Sheikh Mohammed in 2015, the Arab Reading Challenge aims to make reading a regular habit among young people while improving comprehension, expression and Arabic-language proficiency.
The initiative encourages students to explore books beyond their school curriculum, broaden their understanding of different cultures and develop confidence in expressing their ideas.
Its growth from 3.6 million participants in the first edition to more than 40 million in the 10th demonstrates its expanding international reach.
As Dubai prepares to announce this year’s winners, the challenge continues to place literacy, education and a love of reading at the centre of efforts to equip young people with knowledge for the future.