Dubai: The Dubai International Holy Quran Award has commenced public voting to determine the most beautiful Quran recitation for its 28th edition, taking place in the year 1447H - 2026. This prestigious event, organized under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, has reached its final stage with six qualified participants vying for the title.
According to Emirates News Agency, the finalists were chosen after two rigorous qualifying rounds. The competition now features the top three male participants-Omar Aly Awad from Egypt, Abdulla AlButi from Kuwait, and Karrar Layth Saad from Iraq-and the top three female participants-Aisyah AR Rumy from Indonesia, Sarah Alhalak from Syria, and Jana Ehab Ramadan from Egypt. Public voting is accessible via quran.gov.ae, with the final results to be announced during the closing ceremony on 2nd March in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The prestigious award ceremony will feature prizes of $1 million each for the top male and female participants, and $1 million for the Global Quranic Personality. Ahmed Darwish Al Muhairi, Director-General of the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai (IACAD) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award, highlighted the event's comprehensive vision, which aligns with Dubai's commitment to promoting the values of the Holy Quran globally.
Al Muhairi emphasized the significance of the public voting process, which aims to ignite a spiritual movement across continents during Ramadan, uniting Muslims worldwide through the beauty of Quranic recitation. The 28th edition of the award has introduced new features including a dedicated category for female participants, and increased prize values, making it the largest of its kind globally.
The Dubai International Holy Quran Award continues to elevate its global status with a total prize value exceeding AED12 million. This year's competition attracted 5,618 applications from Quran reciters across 105 countries, with females accounting for 30 percent of the entries. The preliminary evaluations adhered strictly to Tajweed rules and performance quality, resulting in 525 reciters advancing to the second stage for live video assessments by the judging panel.