Mohammed bin Rashid crowns Egypt’s Mayar Othman as 10th Arab Reading Challenge Champion as participation exceeds 40 million

Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, 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, crowned Mayar Mohammed Ragab Othman from Egypt as the 10th Arab Reading Challenge Champion. The closing ceremony of the 10th Arab Reading Challenge, held today at the Dubai World Trade Centre, also recognised winners in the Outstanding Supervisor, Best School, Community Champion and People of Determination Champion categories, as well as country-level winners of the world’s largest reading competition and initiative. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “The Arab Reading Challenge is an inspiring cultural movement, in which we placed our trust in our students and in the quest for knowledge, aiming to foster a culturally conscious generation that excels in areas of science and intellect.” His Highness added: “More than 40 million students participating in this tenth edition have proven that an educated human being is the true force in a changing world. We take immense pride in this promising generation. Our commitment to empowering human potential remains limitless and boundless.” The closing ceremony was attended by His Highness Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee; and His Highness Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, alongside ministers and senior officials. Record participation This year’s Arab Reading Challenge, organised by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), recorded the largest participation in its history, drawing 40,286,428 students from 60 countries, including 74,062 students in the People of Determination category. Participation increased by 24% compared with the Challenge’s ninth edition and represented 48% of all school students across the Arab world. The 10th edition also engaged 138,426 schools and 161,507 supervisors. With AED11 million awarded annually to winners and top participants, the total value of prizes awarded over the initiative’s 10 editions has reached AED110 million. The 2026 Arab Reading Challenge Champion, Mayar Othman, received AED500,000 after prevailing in the final qualifying round, which brought together country-level winners in Dubai. Ghazal Rashad Adel Tayyem from Palestine secured second place, receiving AED100,000, while Rayan bin Adeeb Ali Al Zakeri from Saudi Arabia claimed third place and received AED70,000. Country-level champions who reached the final round of the 10th Arab Reading Challenge were Khadija Bumelik (Morocco), Bana Omar Abdullah (Syria), Omar Mohammed Al Ameri (Qatar), Nour Osama Al Kandari (Kuwait), Lujain Ahmed Abed (Iraq), Mayar Mohammed Ragab Othman (Egypt), Sondos Mohammed Al Sayyed Rehab (Al Azhar Al Sharif), Ghazal Rashad Adel Tayyem (Palestine), Raneem Murshid Al Darweesh (Bahrain), Rayan bin Adeeb Ali Al Zakeri (KSA), Aya Mahmoud Mansour Al Tahat (Jordan), Di Shaikhen Al Zamraki (Mauritania), Danah Adel Al Zarouni (UAE), Yasmin Abdulhamid Al Butti (Libya), Baha Maymouni (Tunisia), Manissa Bilal Abu Mahmoud (Lebanon) and Mejalli Abdulrahman Ali Abdullah (Yemen). Outstanding Supervisor His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum awarded the Outstanding Supervisor title to Fakhri Mahmoud Mayyas from Jordan, who received AED300,000. Budoor Faleh Meteb Al Asqa from Kuwait placed second and received AED100,000, while Aysha Al Atawi from Bahrain came third and received AED50,000. Country-level winning supervisors included Ezzeddine Al Muwansi (Morocco), Alaa Nasser Sharookh (Syria), Hisham Badreddine Al Sayyed (Qatar), Budoor Faleh Meteb Al Asqa (Kuwait), Dalia Hassanin Ahmed (Egypt), Bani Suwaif area (Al Azhar Al Sharif), Ahed Saleh Aburrob (Palestine), Aysha Al Atawi (Bahrain), Hanan Ali Al Hazemi (KSA), Fakhri Mahmoud Mayyas (Jordan), Mohammedo Mohammed Al Amin Mohammed Al Sheikh (Mauritania), Naima Al Amiri (UAE), Awatef Ali Al Shaheyye (Libya), Munir Al Furaiji (Tunisia), Haidar Mushawrab (Lebanon) and Intisar Hassan Amer Al Awadi (Yemen). Community Champion His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum awarded the Community Champion title to Sohaib Majd Mohammed from New Zealand, who received AED100,000. Hala Adib Al Rzouq from Malaysia placed second and received AED70,000, while Mohammed Shahinshah Nadamurikkal from India came third and received AED30,000. Finalists in the category included Omar Mohammed Abdulkhaleq Mohammed (Australia), Rayhan Mohammed Al Mohammed Al Sheikh (Brazil), Mais Saed Hassan Abu Ajwa (China), Massa Abdein (Germany), Suad Al Miqdad (Norway), Sarah Al Ali (Austria), Aline Al Asad (USA), Nousa Al Sherbini Ibrahim (Greece), Yara Ali Abu Farah