Top reciters receive $1 million at Dubai International Holy Quran Award
Female category introduced with equal top prize
DUBAI – His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has honoured the winners of the Most Beautiful Quran Recitation for 2026 during a reception held for finalists of the 28th edition of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award.
The ceremony took place at Majlis Umm Suqeim, where His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum met the finalists and praised their excellence in recitation and their dedication to the Holy Quran. He commended the outstanding standards demonstrated by participants in this year’s edition, describing them as ambassadors of peace, love, goodness and tolerance.
“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,” His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said.
The reception was attended by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group; Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee; Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Faith-filled gathering
The gathering unfolded in an atmosphere marked by devotion, humility and tranquillity. Attendees listened to live recitations by the six finalists who had advanced to the final stage in both male and female categories, each demonstrating refined mastery of Tajweed rules and vocal performance.
The male finalists were Abdullah Faisal Al Buti from Kuwait, Karrar Layth Saad from Iraq, and Omar Aly Awad from Egypt. In the female category, finalists 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 award in the male category to Karrar Layth Saad from Iraq, who received a prize of $1 million. In the female category, Jana Ehab Ramadan from Egypt was awarded first place and received $1 million.
The remaining finalists were also honoured during the reception. Omar Aly Awad from Egypt secured second place in the male category, while Abdullah Faisal Al Buti from Kuwait achieved third place. In the female category, Aisyah AR Rumy from Indonesia won second place, and Sara Abdul Karim Alhalak from Syria secured third place.
The first-place winners in both categories were selected through public voting from among the six finalists who had reached the concluding stage of the competition.
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 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, alongside qualitative enhancements, expanded international participation and encouraged new generations to pursue mastery in memorisation and recitation. The vision reinforces the Award’s mission of preparing ambassadors of peace, tolerance and love among the people of the Quran worldwide.
According to him, record participation in this edition demonstrates the Award’s growing global stature and its role in inspiring youth to strengthen their connection to the Holy Quran and uphold its teachings. The Award also honours scholars and institutions that have rendered outstanding services to the Quran and its sciences.
He congratulated the winners and praised their excellence in recitation and performance, expressing hope that they would serve as role models for their peers across the world.
Earlier, the Award announced the selection of the late Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil Al-Husary as the Global Quranic Personality, with a $1 million prize. He was recognised for his historic stature as a leading Imam of reciters and for his lifetime dedication to serving the Holy Quran. Sheikh Al-Husary was the first to record the recited Quran in an authenticated audio format, preserving the principles of proper recitation with exceptional precision. His recordings became a global reference for generations of reciters.
Record participation
The 28th edition witnessed intense global competition following the launch of its new development vision. A total of 5,618 applications were received from 105 countries, with 30 percent of submissions in the female category.
Applications came from Arab and Islamic countries as well as Muslim communities in the United States, Canada, Russia and nations across multiple continents, reflecting the Award’s widening international reach.
During the first evaluation phase, all applicants and their recorded recitations were assessed according to precise and fair standards focused on mastery of Tajweed and vocal performance. From this stage, 525 participants were selected to advance to the second judging phase, including 373 in the male category and 152 in the female category.
The second stage involved live virtual evaluations conducted between contestants and the judging panel. This phase assessed recitation quality, adherence to Tajweed rules and overall performance. The judging panel comprised distinguished scholars certified in Quranic sciences with extensive experience in international competitions.
At the conclusion of the second stage, six finalists were selected to proceed to the final round, culminating in the public vote that determined the first-place winners in both categories.
Leading global award
The 28th edition introduced a comprehensive development vision designed to strengthen the Award’s global standing and broaden its impact in serving the Holy Quran and its sciences.
The total prize value was increased to more than Dh12 million. The first-place winners in the male and female categories of the Most Beautiful Quran Recitation each received $1 million, while the value of the Global Quranic Personality Award was also raised to $1 million.
In addition to increasing prize values, this edition opened participation to females for the first time through a dedicated category that offered equal recognition and financial reward. The new structure 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 emerging talent worldwide and elevated competitive standards. By raising prize values to what organisers describe as the largest of their kind globally, the Award directs greater attention from youth, families and Quran education institutions towards excellence in memorisation and recitation.