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Algeria’s Merbai is winner 
of Dubai Quran award

DUBAI — Algerian contestant Mohamed Irchad Merbai won the top position and the Dh250,000 prize money in the 14th session of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award, pushing Bangladeshi Maswoud Ridwan and Bahraini Mesab Essa to second and third spots respectively.

Ridwan won Dh200,000 for his Quran recital and Essa went home with Dh150,000.

They were followed in order by Ahmed Youssri (Egypt), Khaled Abobakr (Yemen), Khalil Tahir (Libya), Mbwana Assaa (Tanzania), Ammar Bugis (Saudi Arabia), Naser Sarram (Kuwait), Mohammed Latrache (Morocco), and Mohamed Osman (Sudan). The prize money ranged from Dh35,000 to Dh65,000.

Contestants who scored 80 per cent and above, were given Dh30,000 each, while those whose performance was estimated at 70 to 79 per cent, received Dh25,000 each. Participants with scores less than 70 per cent got Dh20,000 each.

At the closing ceremony at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce on Monday night, the Islamic Personality of the Year, former Sudanese President Abdul Rahman Swar Al Dahab, and the top 10 of the 70 contestants (selected from an original list of 78) of the Quran Awards competition were honoured. Certificates and cash prizes were given away to the other participants as well.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Saeed Harib, Deputy Chairman of the award organising committee said the Dubai Quran Award had been promoting Quran memorising activities within and outside the country, and had created a shining image of the country and its blessed leaders.

“It’s our duty to tell the humanity about the tolerant and merciful teachings of the Holy Quran, the last and final message revealed to earth.”

In his speech, Al Dahab said, “Of all the prizes I have won, the Islamic Personality is the best and closest to 
my heart.

It is an honour to all the Sudanese people and to the Islamic Call Organisation that I chair.”

The Dubai International Holy Quran Award, which started with only two branches in 1997, has branched out to eight categories in a record time.

“This may not have been possible without the dedicated support of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,” he said.

The head of the judging panel, Shaikh Samih Ahmed Athamnah from Jordan, said the competition saw 70 contestants this year after eight others were disqualified during the initial evaluation.

“The five-member jury has very attentively listened to around 630 pages of the Holy Quran; not only word by word, but also letter by letter and even intonation by intonation in view of the set rules.” 
 ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com