Dubai International Holy Quran Award Boosts Winners with $1 Million Prizes
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, recognized the winners of the “Most Beautiful Recitation” for 2026 in a ceremony held on Tuesday at the Umm Suqeim Majlis in Dubai. This event marked the culmination of the 28th edition of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA).
The awards ceremony featured the presence of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, along with H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the National Olympic Committee, and other dignitaries.
During the ceremony, attendees experienced a spiritually enriching atmosphere as finalists showcased their recitations. Sheik Mohammed commended the competitors for their exceptional abilities, stating that they exemplified the values of peace, love, and tolerance associated with the Holy Quran.
The first prize of $1 million for the male category was awarded to Karrar Laith Saad from Iraq, while the female category’s first prize went to Jana Ehab Mohamed Ramadan from Egypt, also amounting to $1 million.
Finalist Standings
The competition featured intense competition among various talents, resulting in the following standings:
- Male Category: Omar Ali Awad from Egypt secured second place, and Abdullah Faisal Al-Batti from Kuwait came in third.
- Female Category: Aisha Al-Rumai from Indonesia earned second place, while Sara Abdulkarim Al-Hallaq from Syria took third.
The winners emerged from a public voting process that culminated in the selection of the six finalists in the 28th session.
Ahmed Darwish Al-Mehairi, Director General of the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Award, remarked that this session’s “Developmental Vision” has significantly bolstered Dubai’s status as a global center for Quranic studies.
This edition of the award attracted a record 5,618 applications from 105 countries, with female applicants comprising 30% of the total. From the vast pool of candidates, 525 contestants (373 males and 152 females) advanced to the next stage of judging, conducted via direct video communication.
In a tribute to legacy, the award committee posthumously honored Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary, a distinguished Egyptian reciter, as the “Islamic Personality of the Year,” awarding him a prize of $1 million. This recognition celebrates his pivotal role as the first person to audio-document the “Murattal” Quran, which has preserved the rules of recitation throughout generations.
Following the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the total prize money for the award has now exceeded AED 12 million ($3.27 million), establishing it as the most valuable competition of its kind worldwide. This financial escalation is part of an initiative aimed at inspiring younger generations to master the teachings of the Holy Quran and embody its fundamental values of tolerance.
For further information, visit the Dubai International Holy Quran Award official website.
Published on 2026-03-03 19:33:00 • By Editorial Desk • Category: UAE,/22312099265/Emirates247/UAE
