The Arab Reading Challenge in 10 years… official and popular appreciation and a qualitative impact on the Arab cultural scene

Dubai, October 20 / WAM / Ten years after its launch, the Arab Reading Challenge initiative continues to strengthen its position as the largest reading demonstration of its kind in the Arabic language in the world, and a major contributor to making a qualitative impact on the Arab cultural scene, at all levels in terms of expanding the circle of participation, consolidating the culture of reading in the hearts of new generations, and interest in the Arabic language.

This inspiring initiative, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him,” in 2015, was able to attract more than 163 million male and female students to participate in its competitions, and it also gained great appreciation at the popular and official levels in the Arab world.
The list of achievements recorded by the Arab Reading Challenge initiative extends over a period of ten years, and it has not stopped developing its approach and working mechanisms to reach the widest segment of students inside and outside the Arab world, which was represented by the announcement of the creation of the Communities Champion category after opening the door to participation in the Arab Reading Challenge for students from outside Arab countries, learners of the Arabic language, and speakers of other languages ​​with the conclusion of its second session and the launch of its third session. The Arab Reading Challenge was also created. As of its seventh session, and for the first time in its history, a new category has been created for students with determination, with the aim of enhancing their presence on the map of Arab culture, and helping them integrate and interact positively with society.
The Arab Reading Challenge initiative, which falls under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation, has recorded a special achievement in terms of the appreciation it enjoys in the Arab world, as the League of Arab States, on December 18, 2024, called on the ministries concerned with education in the Arab countries to adopt the Arab Reading Challenge initiative as an educational curriculum and support its dissemination and promotion.
During a celebration on the occasion of International Arabic Language Day, which was approved by the United Nations in 1973, the university confirmed that the initiative represents a pioneering knowledge and cultural project that contributes to strengthening the Arabic language, as it is a container of the Arab nation’s heritage and identity.
In the context of this appreciation and remarkable presence in the Arab world, the Arab Reading Challenge Initiative participated in the 30th session of the Rabat International Book Fair in April 2025, which is considered one of the largest cultural exhibitions on the African continent and the Arab world. The Arab Reading Challenge pavilion received great interaction from visitors to the exhibition and participants in previous sessions of the Arab Reading Challenge Initiative at the level of the Kingdom of Morocco. The pavilion received more than five thousand visitors, who interacted with more than 25 workshops. Educational and cultural topics on the importance of spreading the culture of reading as a cornerstone in developing the capabilities of new generations.
The Arab Reading Challenge annually provides incentive rewards to first-place finishers in all its categories, totaling 11 million dirhams, bringing the total value of the prizes provided by the Arab Reading Challenge since its launch in 2015 to 99 million dirhams.
The student who wins the Challenge Champion title will receive a financial prize worth 500,000 dirhams, the second-place holder will receive 100,000 dirhams, and the third-place holder will receive 70,000 dirhams, while the school that wins the “Distinguished School” title will receive an amount of one million dirhams, the second-place holder will receive 500,000 dirhams, and 300,000 dirhams for the school that comes in third place.
The supervisor who wins the title of “Distinguished Supervisor” will receive an amount of 300,000 dirhams, the second-place holder will receive 100,000 dirhams, and the third-place holder will receive 50,000 dirhams. The winner of the title of Arab Reading Challenge Champion in the People of Determination category will receive a prize of 200,000 dirhams, the second-place holder will receive 100,000 dirhams, and the third-place holder will receive 50,000 dirhams, while the reward for the first-place holder in the Communities category is 100,000 dirhams. dirhams, and the second 70 thousand dirhams, The third is 30 thousand dirhams.
In addition to attracting more than 163 million students during nine cycles, the Arab Reading Challenge also recorded more than 927 thousand participants from Arab schools, and the total number of supervisors participating in nine cycles reached more than 877 thousand reading supervisors and supervisors. It also witnessed tremendous growth rates in the volume of participation starting from the first cycle, which attracted 3.6 million students, all the way to the ninth cycle, where the number of participants in its qualifiers reached more than 32 million students. Students, an increase of more than 795% compared to the first session, and the ninth session witnessed the participation of 132,112 schools and 161,004 male and female supervisors from 50 countries.
28.2 million students from 50 countries participated in the eighth session, and the title was won by the students Hatem Muhammad Jassim Al-Turkawi from Syria, Kadi Bint Misfer Al-Khathami from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Salsabil Hassan Sawalha from Palestine, while the student Muhammad Ahmed Hassan Abdel-Halim from Egypt “Al-Azhar Al-Sharif” won first place in the People of Determination category.
The Creativity School – First Circle from the Emirates won the title of “Distinguished School,” Rabie Ahmed from Syria won the title of “Distinguished Supervisor,” and student Muhammad Al-Rifai from Sweden was crowned the Communities Champion.
The seventh session of the challenge recorded the participation of 24.8 million students, male and female, from 46 countries, representing more than 188,000 schools, and under the supervision of about 150,000 male and female supervisors. The title was won equally by the student Abdullah Muhammad Abdullah Al-Bari from Qatar, and the student Amna Muhammad Al-Mansouri from the Emirates, while the student Youssef Bin Daoud from Tunisia won the title of champion of the Arab Reading Challenge in the People of Determination category.
The King Abdullah II School of Excellence from Jordan won the title of “Distinguished School,” Samaher Al-Sawaei from Jordan won the title of “Distinguished Supervisor,” and student Muhammad Abdul Raqeeb Ali Ahmed Al-Kawkabani from Malaysia won the title of Community Champion.
In the sixth session, 22.27 million students, male and female, from 44 countries participated, representing 92,000 schools, and under the supervision of 126,000 male and female supervisors.
Student Sham Muhammad Al-Bakour from Syria won the title, Al-Mukhtar Jasolit School from Morocco won the title of “Distinguished School,” and Nour Muhammad Al-Jabour from Jordan won the title of “Distinguished Supervisor,” while the title of Communities Champion went to Nada Al-Satri from Belgium.
The fifth session recorded the participation of more than 21 million people from 52 countries, representing 96,000 schools, and under the supervision of 120,000 male and female supervisors.
The title of Champion of the Arab Reading Challenge was won by student Abdullah Muhammad Murad Abu Khalaf from Jordan, Al Gharib School for Basic Education from Egypt won the title of “Distinguished School,” and the title of “Distinguished Supervisor” went to Moza Al-Ghana from the Emirates, while Alexander Foros from Italy won the title of Community Champion.
In the fourth session of the Arab Reading Challenge, 13.5 million students from 49 countries participated, representing 67,000 schools and under the supervision of 99,000 male and female supervisors.
The student Hadeel Anwar from Sudan won the title of Champion of the Arab Reading Challenge, the Imam Al-Nawawi School from Saudi Arabia won the title of “Distinguished School,” and the title of “Distinguished Supervisor” went to Amira Najib from Egypt, while Mahmoud Bilal from Sweden won the title of Communities Champion.
10.5 million students from 44 countries participated in the third session, representing 52,000 schools, and under the supervision of 87,000 male and female supervisors.
The title was won by student Maryam Amjoun from Morocco, Al-Ikhlas National Schools from Kuwait won the title of “Distinguished School,” Aisha Al-Tuwairqi from Saudi Arabia won the title of “Distinguished Supervisor,” and the title of Communities Champion went to Tasneem Eidi from France.
The second session of the Arab Reading Challenge witnessed the participation of about 7.4 million students, male and female, from 26 countries, representing 41,000 schools and under the supervision of 75,000 male and female supervisors.
Student Afaf Al-Sharif from Palestine was crowned the winner of the second session, the title of “Distinguished School” went to Al-Iman Schools from Bahrain, and Houria Al-Dhale from Morocco won the title of “Distinguished Supervisor.”
The first session of the challenge recorded the participation of 3.6 million students, male and female, from 19 countries, representing 30,000 schools and under the supervision of 60,000 male and female supervisors.
Student Abdullah Farah Jalloud from Algeria won the title of the first session, while Tala’i Al-Amal Secondary School from Palestine won the title of “Distinguished School.”
The Arab Reading Challenge, which was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him” in 2015, as the largest reading competition and project in the world, aims to enhance the importance of reading among participating students at the level of the Arab world and the world, develop mechanisms for comprehension and self-expression in a sound Arabic language, endear Arab youth to the Arabic language, encourage them to use it in their daily dealings, and open the door to the educational field. And parents in the Arab world to play a pivotal role in changing the reality of reading and instilling a love for it in new generations.
The challenge, organized by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation, seeks to consolidate the love of knowledge, reading and learning among new generations and provide them with the necessary knowledge to contribute to building a better future and refining their abilities and personalities.
The challenge also aims to build the value system of young people by introducing them to the values, customs and beliefs of other cultures, which consolidates the principles of tolerance, coexistence and acceptance of others, and encourages dialogue and cultural and human openness.

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