The semi-finals of the third edition of the Arab Reading Challenge, the largest knowledge project in the Arab world organized by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives foundation, today commenced in Dubai.
Running from October 27 to 28, the semifinal round has drawn the participation of the national winners of the competition – from among 10.5 million contestants spanning 44 countries across the Arab region and worldwide. The Champion of the Arab Reading Challenge will be crowned on October 30 at an award ceremony at Dubai Opera.
A total of 250 delegates, including 170 competing students, their parents and supervisors, as well as the challenge coordinators and representatives of the five school finalists for the title of Outstanding School, arrived in Dubai on Friday, October 26, 2018. The semi-finals are taking place at the School of Research Science in Al Warqa across two categories – the Arab world and Arab communities residing in non-Arab countries.
In the first-day qualifiers, each of the two categories competed in two groups. The morning group from the Arab world included Mohammed Khaled Hussein from Jordan, Shamsah Jassim Al Naqbi from the UAE, Heila Abdullah Al Enazi and Omar Moayd Al Qarni from Saudi Arabia, and Qassam Mohammed Subaih from Palestine.
The afternoon group comprised Nada Ankal from Algeria, Omar Nour Adam Mohamed from Sudan, Amani Abdulbaqi Ben Ali from Tunisia, Mohamed El Sheikh Weld Said El Amine from Mauritania, and Mariam El Hassan Amgnoun from Morocco.
In the category of students residing outside the Arab world, the morning group included Raghad Hani Shaashaa from Pakistan, Majd Hisham Tafesh from China, Ghaida Al Asmari from India, Munira Hassan from Djibouti, Haroon Bandar Fadel from Malaysia, Maamer Mayouf Al Hantous from Spain, and Aya Humaid from the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, the afternoon group comprised Mohammed Adel Mohammed from Indonesia, Rola Al Zahrani from Italy, Luiza Saleh from Denmark, Mohamed Ahmed Abdo from Sweden, Aya Abdulaziz Al Khudary from Germany, Fatima Kamal Amara from Norway, Tesnim Idi from France, and Rahmah Yasser Abu El Fath from New Zealand.
Najla Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Arab Reading Challenge, said: “We were delighted to welcome the students, who are competing on two consecutive days to qualify for the finals on October 30 that will reveal the Champion of the 2018 Arab Reading Challenge. The tournament has drawn a record participation of 10.5 million students from 44 countries.”
She added: "The contenders who have come to Dubai from around the world have made this year's challenge a global project following the decision announced at the end of the 2017 edition by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to open participation to students from outside the Arab world. We wish this elite group of knowledge-thirsty Arab minds, who are on the right track to becoming the scientists, writers and innovators of the future the very best of luck. Given their determination and spirit, each one of them deserves to be the champion.”
Ali Al Shaali, President of the Arab Reading Challenge Jury, said: “Launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Arab Reading Challenge has truly evolved into an international cultural event. This year's edition witnessed a large representation of students residing outside the Arab world and raised the total number of participating countries to 44 - enabling the competition to expand its global reach and enhance its status as a world-class event. The numbers reflect positively on the achievement of the initiative's objectives for the Arab world. These include driving literacy among the young generation, promoting interest in the Arabic language, creating a cultural movement that boosts interest in education, and equipping students with the skills and knowledge to help them achieve self-fulfillment and leverage their immense potential in shaping an enlightened and knowledge-based society.”
Meanwhile, Al-Salam School from Saudi Arabia, Al Ikhlas National School from Kuwait, Banat Al Awda Primary School from Palestine, Abdelhamid Dar Obaid Sidi Ali Secondary School from Algeria, and Al Wahda Elementary School from Morocco are competing for the title of the Outstanding School to win the coveted prize of AED1 million.