Arab Reading Challenge Winners to Be Revealed on October 29, With Dh500,000 Prize for Overall Champion.
Dubai: The winners of the 10th edition of the Arab Reading Challenge will be honoured on October 29, 2026, at a grand closing ceremony at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
The event will be held 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.
Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed the UAE’s dedication to promoting the Arabic language and inspiring younger generations to embrace reading, education and knowledge as essential foundations for development and progress.
He emphasised that shaping a nation’s future begins with educating and empowering its youth, describing the Arab Reading Challenge as an investment in a brighter future for everyone.
Highlighting the historical importance of Arabic, Sheikh Mohammed noted that the language had played a central role in advancing human civilisation and social development over many centuries.
He expressed confidence that the determination, creativity and intellectual capabilities of younger generations would help restore the Arabic language’s prominent position in knowledge and cultural advancement.
The closing ceremony will recognise outstanding participants and contributors across several categories.
Honours will include the Arab Reading Challenge 2026 Champion, the People of Determination Champion, the Best School, the Outstanding Supervisor and the Communities Champion.
The awards celebrate students, educators and educational institutions that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to reading and fostering a culture of knowledge.
Arab Reading Challenge attracts record 40 million participants
The 10th edition of the Arab Reading Challenge, organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), has achieved its highest participation since its launch, attracting 40,286,428 students from 60 countries.
Among the participants were 74,062 students competing in the People of Determination category.
This year’s participation represents a 24 per cent increase compared with the ninth edition, with the initiative reaching approximately 48 per cent of all school students across the Arab world.
The latest edition also brought together 138,426 schools and 161,507 supervisors, highlighting the programme’s growing reach among educational institutions.
Mohammad Al Gergawi, Secretary-General of MBRGI, said the initiative reflects Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision of developing educated, open-minded generations through reading and continuous learning.
He explained that the programme aims to provide young people with access to knowledge, strengthen their connection with the Arabic language and encourage them to explore international literature and cultures.
The initiative also seeks to develop independent thinking, self-awareness and intellectual curiosity, helping students make informed decisions about their personal and professional futures.
Al Gergawi described the 10th edition as a significant achievement, particularly as participation exceeded 40 million students and expanded to 60 countries for the first time.
He said the record figures demonstrate the widespread support the Arab Reading Challenge has received from governments, educational institutions and communities across the Arab world and internationally.
Dh500,000 prize awaits Arab Reading Challenge champion
MBRGI confirmed that the national champions of the 10th Arab Reading Challenge will be recognised during the closing ceremony.
The overall winner will receive Dh500,000, while the second-place finalist will be awarded Dh100,000 and the third-place winner Dh70,000.
The competition also offers substantial prizes across several other categories.
| Award category | First place | Second place | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Champion | Dh500,000 | Dh100,000 | Dh70,000 |
| People of Determination | Dh200,000 | Dh100,000 | Dh50,000 |
| Community Champion | Dh100,000 | Dh70,000 | Dh30,000 |
| Best School | Dh1 million | Dh500,000 | Dh300,000 |
| Outstanding Supervisor | Dh300,000 | Dh100,000 | Dh50,000 |
The People of Determination category was introduced during the competition’s seventh edition. Participants in this category are required to read 25 books.
Meanwhile, the Community Champion category is designed for students residing outside the Arab world, individuals whose first language is not Arabic and those studying Arabic as an additional language.
The category carries a combined prize fund of Dh200,000 for its top three winners.
Since the Arab Reading Challenge was established, the total value of prizes awarded through the current edition has reached Dh110 million, with Dh11 million distributed to winners each year.
Meet the finalists competing for the 2026 title
National champions from participating countries will compete for the prestigious Arab Reading Challenge 2026 Champion title during the final ceremony.
The finalists include:
- Morocco: Khadija Bumelik
- Syria: Bana Omar Abdullah
- Qatar: Omar Mohammed Al Ameri
- Kuwait: Nour Osama Al Kandari
- Iraq: Lujain Ahmed Abed
- Egypt: Mayar Mohammed Ragab Othman
- Al Azhar Al Sharif: Sondos Mohammed Al Sayyed Rehab
- Palestine: Ghazal Rashad Adel Tayyem
- Bahrain: Raneem Murshid Al Darweesh
- Saudi Arabia: Rayan bin Adeeb Ali Al Zakeri
- Jordan: Aya Mahmoud Mansour Al Tahat
- Mauritania: Di Shaikhen Al Zamraki
- UAE: Danah Adel Al Zarouni
- Libya: Yasmin Abdulhamid Al Butti
- Tunisia: Baha Maymouni
- Lebanon: Manissa Bilal Abu Mahmoud
- Yemen: Mejalli Abdulrahman Ali Abdullah
The finalists will compete for the top honours at the Dubai World Trade Centre on October 29, marking the conclusion of the competition’s record-breaking 10th edition.
People of Determination finalists announced
The 10th Arab Reading Challenge has also revealed the shortlisted contestants competing for honours in the People of Determination category.
The finalists represent several Arab countries and educational institutions, highlighting the initiative’s commitment to encouraging inclusive participation in reading and learning.
The shortlisted candidates are:
- Morocco: Hamza Kameli
- Syria: Mahmoud Imran
- Qatar: Lina Mohammed Farouq
- Kuwait: Abdullah Mahmoud Al Mutairi
- Iraq: Sajjad Hassan Mohammed
- Egypt: Mohammed Abduljawad Abdulnabi Nagdi
- Al Azhar Al Sharif: Mohammed Al Amir Zakariya Riyad
- Palestine: Ghazal Ismail Sidqi Daraghmeh
- Bahrain: Batool Al Sayyed Rida Sharaf
- UAE: Yousef Mohammed Saeed Hamed
- Libya: Rawasi Ramadan Belqasem
- Tunisia: Rawan Ashbooli
- Lebanon: Ahmed Ali Qutaish
- Yemen: Sana Mahmoud Hassan Al Humairi
Outstanding Supervisor finalists compete for recognition
The Arab Reading Challenge has also shortlisted educators and reading supervisors who have demonstrated dedication to supporting students and encouraging reading habits.
The nominees competing for the Outstanding Supervisor title include:
- Morocco: Ezzeddine Al Muwansi
- Syria: Alaa Nasser Sharookh
- Qatar: Hisham Badreddine Al Sayyed
- Kuwait: Budoor Faleh Meteb Al Asqa
- Egypt: Dalia Hassanin Ahmed
- Al Azhar Al Sharif: Bani Suwaif area
- Palestine: Ahed Saleh Aburrob
- Bahrain: Aysha Al Atawi
- Saudi Arabia: Hanan Ali Al Hazemi
- Jordan: Fakhri Mahmoud Mayyas
- Mauritania: Mohammedo Mohammed Al Amin Mohammed Al Sheikh
- UAE: Naima Al Amiri
- Libya: Awatef Ali Al Shaheyye
- Tunisia: Munir Al Furaiji
- Lebanon: Haidar Mushawrab
- Yemen: Intisar Hassan Amer Al Awadi
The category recognises the important contribution of educators and supervisors in guiding students, promoting literacy and supporting the development of reading skills.
Schools compete for Dh1 million top prize
Educational institutions from across the Arab world are competing for the Best School award, which carries a first-place prize of Dh1 million.
The shortlisted schools are:
- Morocco: Lycée Qualifiant Moulay Idriss
- Qatar: Al Maha Academy for Boys
- Kuwait: Al Yarmouk High School for Girls
- Egypt: Martyr Mahmoud Al-Maghrabi Primary School
- Palestine: Al Israa Private High School for Boys
- Bahrain: Saar Secondary School for Girls
- Saudi Arabia: Al Aziziyah Private Primary School for Girls
- Jordan: Al-Khalidiyah Secondary Comprehensive Mixed School
- Mauritania: Afaaq Al Mostaqbal School
- UAE: Hamad bin Abdullah Al Sharqi School – Cycle 3
- Tunisia: Sidi Amer School
- Lebanon: Sisters of Saint Joseph School
- Yemen: Al Nawras School
The Best School award celebrates educational institutions that have demonstrated outstanding efforts to encourage students to read and develop a lasting interest in literature and knowledge.
Arab Reading Challenge records major growth over 10 editions
Over its 10 editions, the Arab Reading Challenge has registered more than 1.065 million school participations, while the cumulative number of participating reading supervisors has exceeded 1.193 million.
Since its introduction in 2015, the initiative has expanded significantly, attracting millions of students from countries across the world.
Participation in the 10th edition increased by 1,019 per cent compared with the inaugural competition, which drew 3.6 million students.
The ninth edition recorded 32.231 million participants from 50 countries, involving 132,112 schools and 161,004 supervisors.
During that edition, Tunisian twins Bisan and Baylasan Kouka jointly secured the overall Arab Reading Challenge title.
Maria Hassan Ajil from Iraq won first place in the People of Determination category.
The Outstanding School award was shared by Atika Bint Zaid School (Cycle 1) from the UAE and Tarablus Al Haddadin School from Lebanon.
Sahar Misbah from Egypt received the Outstanding Supervisor title, while Jehad Mohammad Murad from Italy won the International Communities category.
Encouraging reading and strengthening the Arabic language
The Arab Reading Challenge was established in 2015 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as a major initiative to promote literacy and a culture of reading among young people.
The programme encourages students across the Arab world and internationally to develop stronger reading habits, improve their comprehension skills and express their thoughts more confidently.
It also aims to strengthen students’ connection with the Arabic language by encouraging its regular use in reading, communication and learning.
Beyond improving literacy, the initiative seeks to inspire a lifelong interest in books, education and intellectual exploration.
By exposing young readers to literature from different societies, the competition helps broaden their understanding of diverse traditions, beliefs and cultural practices.
The Arab Reading Challenge also promotes tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence while supporting the personal development of younger generations.
Through its continued expansion, the initiative aims to equip students with the knowledge, critical-thinking abilities and values needed to contribute positively to their communities and help shape a better future.
