Mayar Othman of Egypt Crowned 10th Arab Reading Challenge Champion at Dubai Ceremony

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presides over a historic celebration of literacy as a record 40.3 million students across 60 countries are honoured for their dedication to reading and learning.

The Dubai World Trade Centre became a gathering place for excellence in Arabic literacy on 29th October as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, crowned Mayar Mohammed Ragab Othman from Egypt as the 10th Arab Reading Challenge Champion. The ceremony, attended by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and senior officials from across the region, marked not merely the conclusion of an edition but a profound milestone in the evolution of educational achievement across the Arab world.

The tenth edition of the Challenge, organised by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, drew 40,286,428 students from 138,426 schools, representing 48 per cent of all school students across the Arab world. This figure represents a 24 per cent increase on the previous edition and encompasses 74,062 students in the People of Determination category, whose participation reflects the initiative’s commitment to inclusive excellence. As Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid observed, this generation of engaged readers has proven that educated human beings remain the true force in a changing world.

The championship award of AED500,000 went to Mayar Othman, who prevailed in rigorous final qualifying rounds alongside country-level champions from across the Arab diaspora and Arab communities globally. Ghazal Rashad Adel Tayyem from Palestine secured second place, whilst Rayan bin Adeeb Ali Al Zakeri from Saudi Arabia claimed third. In recognition of their exceptional guidance, Fakhri Mahmoud Mayyas from Jordan received the Outstanding Supervisor award of AED300,000, whilst Sidi Amer School from Tunisia was honoured as the Best School with AED1 million in prizes. Mahmoud Imran from Syria was recognised as the People of Determination Champion, receiving AED200,000.

The Challenge continues to build on its legacy as as we reported in our coverage of the decade of words that defines this initiative, fostering transformative engagement with the Arabic language and its cultural heritage. A joint study by MBRGI and UNESCO documented that participating students increased their out-of-school reading from under an hour weekly to over four hours, whilst average annual books read per student rose from eight to over 40. Self-confidence amongst participants surged by 96 per cent, and 93 per cent improved their Arabic language proficiency across comprehension, writing and vocabulary.

The Community Champion category, which was established to amplify voices of those in Arab communities abroad and non-Arabs learning Arabic, saw Sohaib Majd Mohammed from New Zealand emerge victorious with AED100,000. The finalists in this category represented the global reach of the Challenge, with participants from Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, Norway and beyond, underscoring how Arabic literacy transcends borders and binds diaspora communities to their cultural roots.

Since its inception in 2015, the Arab Reading Challenge has expanded from 3.6 million participants to over 40 million across ten editions, engaging more than 1.065 million schools and 1.193 million reading supervisors. The tenth edition has awarded AED11 million in prizes, bringing the total distributed across all editions to AED110 million. The initiative has inspired governments beyond the Arab world to create parallel programmes, most notably the Uzbek Reading Challenge, launched by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev as an extension of the Arab model. International recognition has followed, with the League of Arab States calling on education ministries across Arab countries to adopt the Challenge within their curricula, and the initiative having exhibited at major cultural fairs including the 30th Rabat International Book Fair and the 57th Cairo International Book Fair.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The Challenge represents a defining achievement of the Emirati vision for regional cultural elevation and educational empowerment. By drawing millions of young minds into deeper engagement with the Arabic language and fostering reading practices that extend learning beyond the classroom, the initiative strengthens the foundations of knowledge-based development across the Arab world. For Abu Dhabi, which has positioned itself as a centre of intellectual and cultural advancement, the Challenge’s unprecedented scale and measurable impact on language proficiency and self-confidence demonstrate the power of inclusive, ambitious educational programmes.

The success of the tenth edition, with its record participation and the recognition of students and educators from across 60 countries, reinforces the UAE’s leadership in advancing literacy as a cornerstone of human development. The initiative embodies Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s conviction that an educated generation equipped with strong language skills, cultural awareness and self-belief will shape a future anchored in knowledge and creativity, a vision that resonates throughout the emirate’s broader commitment to nurturing talent and fostering a culture of lifelong learning.

Source: WAM