At the Arab Reading Challenge on October 23, 2024 at Dubai Opera. DUBAI MEDIA OFFICE

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, awarded three students Dh500,000 each as Arab Reading Champions on Wednesday (October 23). The prestigious awards were handed out at the conclusion of the 8th Arab Reading Challenge at Dubai Opera. This year’s champions are Hatem Mohammed Jassim Al Tarkawi from Syria, Kadi bint Musaffar Al Khathaami from Saudi Arabia, and Salsabil Hassan Sawalha from Palestine. The Arab Reading Challenge, the world’s largest Arabic reading initiative, witnessed record participation this year with over 28 million students from more than 229,000 schools in 50 countries. During the awards ceremony, Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the importance of knowledge in shaping the future of societies. “Today, we celebrate the winners of the 8th Arab Reading Challenge, a testament to the power of knowledge and the transformative impact of reading. I am deeply proud of the youth’s enthusiasm and dedication to acquiring knowledge through books,” Sheikh Mohammed said during his address. In addition to the main champions, second and third place winners received cash prizes. Omar Abdul Latif from Egypt took second place, receiving Dh100,000, while Sulaiman Al Shumaimari from Kuwait secured third place with Dh70,000. The ceremony also recognized country-level winners, outstanding supervisors, as well as community champions in recognition of students from Arab communities abroad, as well as non-Arabs learning Arabic. The “Best School” award, worth Dh1 million, went to Al Ibdaa’ Model School - Cycle 1 from the UAE for its efforts in promoting reading culture among students. Sheikh Mohammed extended his congratulations to all participants, emphasizing that reading is key to personal development and societal progress. “Congratulations to every winner and every participant this year. The dedication to reading is a source of pride for us, and we look forward to seeing the next generation grow with knowledge.”

The winners

Arab Reading Champions 2024

First Prize: Dh500,000 each Hatem Mohammed Jassim Al Tarkawi (Syria) Kadi bint Musaffar Al Khathaami (Saudi Arabia) Salsabil Hassan Sawalha (Palestine) Second Prize: Dh100,000 Omar Abdul Latif (Egypt) Third Prize: Dh70,000 Sulaiman Al Shumaimari (Kuwait)

Best School

First Prize: Dh1 million Al Ibdaa’ Model School - Cycle 1 (UAE) Second Prize: Dh500,000 Abu Talha Al Ansari Secondary School (Saudi Arabia) Third Prize: Dh300,000 Awarta Secondary School for Girls Country-level winners: Al-Khawarizmi Primary School for Girls (Qatar), Sitra Secondary School for Girls (Bahrain), Zahour Al Yasmin Private School (Ministry of Education - Egypt), Iqra Foundation (Morocco), Arwa Bint Abdul Muttalib School (Kuwait), Abdullah II School for Excellence (Jordan), Awarta Secondary School for Girls (Palestine), Al Ibdaa’ Model School - Cycle 1 (UAE), Bab Al Hikma School (Mauritania), The First High School for the Gifted (Iraq), Al-Kumait Gifted School (Syria), Al Bashaer Secondary School (Lebanon), Al Fateh Foundation Education School (Libya), Manzel Salem Middle School (Tunisia), and Abu Talha Al Ansari Secondary School (Saudi Arabia).

Community Champion

First Prize: Dh100,000 Mohammed Abdul Fattah Al-Refaie (Sweden) Second Prize: Dh70,000 Ahmed Abdul Raqib Ahmed (Malaysia) Third Prize: Dh30,000 Jana Al-Sayyed Hamdi (Greece)

People of Determination

First Prize: Dh200,000 Ahmed Hassan Abdul Halim (Egypt) Second Prize: Dh100,000 Louay Al Sharif (Tunisia) Third Prize: Dh50,000 Joan Assem Asaad (Palestine) Country-level winners: Saif Nabil Zein (Qatar), Abdullah Jaafar Baqer (Bahrain), Ali Mohammed Ali Jibril (Ministry of Education - Egypt), Mohammed Ahmed Hassan Abdul Halim (Al-Azhar Al-Sharif), Kawthar Al Qurashi (Morocco), Latifa Al Azemi (Kuwait), Raed Sami Al Awaisha (Jordan), Joan Assem Asaad (Palestine), Sulaiman Khamis Sulaiman Al Khadim (UAE), Mahjouba Hamoud (Mauritania), Abrar Mazhar Alawi (Iraq), Youssef Ibrahim (Syria), Leen Haitham Al Rimah (Lebanon), Habiba Misbah Ammar Al Lafi (Libya), Louay Al Sharif (Tunisia), and Raneem Fahad Al Lahibi (Saudi Arabia).

Outstanding Supervisor

First Prize: Dh300,000 Rabie Ahmed (Syria) Second Prize: Dh100,000 Eman Morsy Al Sayed Morsy (Egypt) Third Prize: Dh50,000 Afrah Al Matootah (Kuwait) Country-level winners: Nashwa Saad Ahmed (Qatar), Shaikha Mubarak Al Dhaheri (Bahrain), Eman Morsy Al Sayed Morsy (Ministry of Education - Egypt), Najat Sherbeka (Morocco), Afrah Al Matootah (Kuwait), Rami Ahmed Al Harahsheh (Jordan), Fadi Abdul Rahman Abu Hamda (Palestine), Assem Abara (UAE), Al Mustafa Mohamed Injeh (Mauritania), Omar Kamal (Iraq), Rabie Ahmed (Syria), Linda Hussein Wehbe (Lebanon), Rabie Ali Faraj Al Shnakieh (Libya), Sana Al Zarrad (Tunisia), and Mishal bin Ayed Al Malki (Saudi Arabia). ICA/Expat Media
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