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DUBAI/WAM
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, honoured the winners of the Most Beautiful Quran Recitation for 2026 that forms part of the 28th edition of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award.
His Highness honoured the winners during a reception for the Award’s finalists held at Majlis Umm Suqeim this evening, where he praised their excellence in recitation and their commitment to the Holy Quran. He also praised the outstanding standard demonstrated by participants in this year’s Award.
“Today, we recognised an exceptional group among the people of the Quran. In this Holy Month, we celebrate the Holy Quran and the talents who carry its message as ambassadors of peace, love, goodness and tolerance. Supporting the people of the Quran is a tribute to knowledge and virtue, and serving the Quran will always remain one of the greatest honours we uphold.”
The reception was attended by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group; H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee; H.H. Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; and H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
During the meeting, which was marked by an atmosphere of devotion, humility, and tranquillity, attendees listened to beautiful recitations by the contestants who reached the final stage in both the male and female categories. The male category included Abdullah Faisal Al Buti from Kuwait, Karrar Layth Saad from Iraq, and Omar Aly Awad from Egypt. The female category included Aisyah AR Rumy from Indonesia, Jana Ehab Ramadan from Egypt, and Sara Abdul Karim Alhalak from Syria.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented the first-place winner of the Most Beautiful Quran Recitation for 2026 in the male category, Karrar Layth Saad from Iraq, with a prize of US$1 million, and the first-place winner in the female category, Jana Ehab Ramadan from Egypt, with a prize of US$1 million.
His Highness also honoured the finalists from both categories. Omar Aly Awad from Egypt won second place, while Abdullah Faisal Al Buti from Kuwait secured third place. In the female category, Aisyah AR Rumy from Indonesia won second place, and Sara Abdul Karim Alhalak from Syria won third place.
The first-place winners in both categories were chosen through public voting from among the six finalists who advanced to the final stage of the 28th Dubai International Holy Quran Award. Ahmed Darwish Al Muhairi, Director-General of the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award, said, “The Award, under the directives and vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, reflects Dubai’s commitment to consolidating its position as a leading global centre in serving the Quran and its sciences.”
He noted that the development vision introduced in the current edition of the Award, along with its qualitative enhancements, has contributed to expanding international participation and motivating new generations to pursue learning the Holy Quran with mastery and distinction. This, he added, reinforces the Award’s mission of preparing ambassadors of peace, tolerance, and love among the people of the Quran worldwide. He further emphasised that the record participation confirms that the Dubai International Holy Quran Award embodies Dubai’s international efforts to inspire youth and strengthen their connection to the Holy Quran, encouraging them to uphold its values and teachings, and motivating them to compete in memorisation and recitation. The Award also honours scholars and institutions that have rendered outstanding services to the Holy Quran and its sciences.
Al Muhairi congratulated the winners and praised their excellence in mastering recitation and performance, wishing them continued success in their journey with the Holy Quran and expressing hope that they will serve as role models and sources of inspiration for their peers across the world.
The Dubai International Holy Quran Award had previously announced the selection of the late Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil Al-Husary, Sheikh of the Egyptian Qurra and former Chairman of the Mushaf Review Committee, as the Global Quranic Personality, with a US$1 million prize. The selection came in recognition of his historic stature as a leading Imam of reciters and in appreciation of a lifetime devoted to serving the Holy Quran. He was the first to record the recited Quran in an authenticated audio format worldwide, preserving the principles of proper recitation with exceptional precision and mastery. His voice became a reference for generations and a guiding example for those striving for excellence in Quran recitation.
The 28th Dubai International Holy Quran Award witnessed intense global competition following the launch of its new development vision, which expanded international participation. The Award received 5,618 applications from 105 countries, with 30 percent of submissions in the female category. Applications included participants from Arab and Islamic countries, as well as Muslim communities in the United States, Canada, Russia, and countries across various continents.
During the first evaluation phase, all applicants and their recorded recitations were assessed based on mastery of Tajweed and vocal performance, according to precise and fair mechanisms and standards. A total of 525 participants were selected to advance to the second judging stage, including 373 in the male category and 152 in the female category.
The second judging stage represented a key competitive phase, conducted through live virtual evaluations between contestants and the judging panel to assess the most beautiful Quran recitation for 2026, mastery of Tajweed rules, and performance quality according to strict and equal standards. The judging panel comprised distinguished scholars certified in Quranic sciences with extensive experience in international competitions. At the conclusion of this phase, six finalists were selected to advance to the final stage.
The 28th Dubai International Holy Quran Award introduced a new development vision with major enhancements aimed at strengthening its global standing and expanding its impact in serving the Holy Quran and its sciences.
The total prize value was increased to more than AED12 million. The first-place winner in both the male and female categories of the Most Beautiful Quran Recitation received US$1 million each. The value of the Global Quranic Personality Award was also raised to US$1 million.
This development vision, launched under the directives and strong support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, represents a strategic transformation that strengthens Dubai’s international influence in encouraging excellence in Quran recitation — one of the noblest fields of knowledge. Raising the prize value to this level, making it the largest globally, elevates competition to unprecedented standards and directs the focus of youth, families, and Quran education institutions towards achieving the highest levels of mastery through renewed dedication and effort. In addition to increasing prize values, the 28th edition opened participation to females for the first time through a dedicated category. The new edition also expanded international participation, updated nomination and judging mechanisms, and introduced direct individual applications alongside nominations submitted by participants’ countries or accredited Islamic centres. These enhancements broadened access to talent from around the world and further strengthened the Award’s global leadership.