DUBAI, UAE- Mayar Mohammed Ragab Othman from Egypt has been crowned the 10th Arab Reading Challenge Champion by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The award ceremony was held at Dubai World Trade Centre in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (right) with His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum———- WAM
The 10th edition of the Arab Reading Challenge recorded its biggest participation since the initiative began. More than 40 million students took part, showing the growing importance of reading and knowledge among young people across the Arab world and beyond.
According to the organisers, 40,286,428 students from 60 countries participated in this year’s edition. The competition also included 74,062 students in the People of Determination category.
The 10th edition involved 138,426 schools and 161,507 supervisors. Participation increased by 24 percent compared with the ninth edition and represented 48 percent of all school students across the Arab world.
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said the Arab Reading Challenge has developed into an inspiring cultural movement that places trust in students and encourages them to pursue knowledge.
He said the participation of more than 40 million students demonstrated that an educated person remains a powerful force in a changing world. He also highlighted the UAE’s continued commitment to developing human potential.
Mayar Othman won the final competition after competing against country level winners from across the region.
She received AED500,000 as the 10th Arab Reading Challenge Champion.
WAM
Ghazal Rashad Adel Tayyem from Palestine secured second place and received AED100,000, while Rayan bin Adeeb Ali Al Zakeri from Saudi Arabia took third place and received AED70,000.
The finalists represented countries including Egypt, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Morocco, Syria, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, Jordan, Mauritania, Libya, Tunisia, Lebanon and Yemen.
The competition required students to read 25 books. During the final stages, they took part in oral examinations where they explained the main ideas and themes of the books they had read.
Judges assessed their vocabulary, understanding and ability to explain ideas clearly in their own words.
The Arab Reading Challenge awards AED11 million every year to winners and leading participants.
Over its first 10 editions, the total value of prizes has reached AED110 million.
The ceremony also recognised winners in several other categories, including Outstanding Supervisor, Best School, Community Champion and People of Determination Champion.
Fakhri Mahmoud Mayyas from Jordan was named Outstanding Supervisor and received AED300,000.
Sidi Amer School from Tunisia won the Best School title and received AED1 million.
The Community Champion title went to Sohaib Majd Mohammed from New Zealand, who received AED100,000.
Mahmoud Imran from Syria was named the 2026 People of Determination Champion and received AED200,000.
The Community Champion category allows students from Arab communities living outside the Arab world, as well as non Arab students learning Arabic, to participate in the competition.
The category was introduced after the second edition of the Challenge and has helped expand the initiative’s reach internationally.
The People of Determination category was introduced in the seventh edition. It gives students an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and take part in the Arab cultural scene. Participants in this category are also required to read 25 books.
The Arab Reading Challenge was launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2015.
The initiative aims to encourage students to develop a lasting love for reading, improve their Arabic language skills and build stronger knowledge and understanding.
Over its 10 editions, the Challenge has attracted more than 203 million students, more than 1.065 million schools and 1.193 million reading supervisors.
The 10th edition alone saw participation rise by 1,019 percent compared with the first edition, which had 3.6 million participating students.
The ninth edition had 32.231 million students from 50 countries, with 132,112 schools and 161,004 supervisors taking part.
A joint study by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and UNESCO has also examined the impact of the Arab Reading Challenge since its launch.
The study found significant improvements in students’ reading habits, language skills and self confidence.
Students’ out of school reading time increased from less than one hour a week before joining the Challenge to more than four hours a week after participation.
The average number of books read annually by each student also increased from eight to more than 40.
More than 80 percent of participants reported regular weekly reading, while the study recorded a 96 percent increase in self confidence.
The study also found that 93 percent of participants improved their Arabic language skills in areas including reading comprehension, writing, vocabulary and style.
In addition, 71 percent of students said they felt a stronger connection to their heritage.
The Arab Reading Challenge has grown from a UAE initiative into a major international reading movement.
Its impact has also extended beyond the Arab world. Uzbekistan has launched an Uzbek Reading Challenge inspired by the success of the Arab Reading Challenge, as part of cooperation between the UAE and Uzbekistan in government experience exchange.
The League of Arab States has also supported the initiative. In December 2024, it called on education ministries across Arab countries to adopt the Challenge within their curricula and support its continued development.
The 10th edition therefore marks more than another annual competition. It reflects a wider effort to make reading, knowledge, Arabic language skills and cultural understanding an important part of the lives of young people.
For Mayar Othman, the journey ended with the top honour in Dubai. For millions of other students, the Challenge continues to build a habit that can stay with them well beyond the competition.
