Nigerian wins Dubai Holy Quran Award

The 18th session of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award concluded on Friday night with Nigerian contestant Sulaiman Abdulkarim Isah winning the top position in the international Quran completion category of the Award, along with the AED250,000 prize money. Omar Hussain Baeisa of Saudi Arabia and Yemeni Mohammed Khaled Yaseen achieved second and third positions.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, attended the concluding ceremony at the Cultural and Scientific Association, Mamzar, along with a number of senior officials, dignitaries, 78 Quran contestants, and members of the public.

The other top ten participants included Abdulaziz Abdulla Alhamri from Qatar, Abdul Rahman Alshuwaie from Kuwait, Mohammad Amdadulla Tajul Islam from Bangladesh, Anis Ali Al Fadel from Libya, Salem El Emjad from Mauritania, Mohammed Arif from the USA, and Abdulrahman Abdulla Hasan from Bahrain.

These were gifted between AED65,000 and Dh35,000. The Mauritian and American contestants, having got the same marks, were ranked eighth and second eighth.

Contestants who scored 80 percent and above were rewarded with AED30,000 each, while those whose performance was estimated at 70 to 79 percent, received AED25,000 each. Participants with scores less than 70 percent got AED20,000 each. Certificates and cash prizes are to be given  to other participants as well.

The top five winners in the ‘Most Beautiful Recitation’ contest were named on Wednesday night as Mouad Daouik (Morocco), Ally Mwalimu (Tanzania), Omar Baeisa (Saudi Arabia), Mohammed Khaled (Yemen), and Mohammad El Fawal (Lebanon).

Documentaries were displayed on the Award's 18-year history, and Dr. Ahmed Al Tayeb, Sheikh Al Azhar, won the AED1 million Islamic Personality of the year Award. Finally, the jury members and top ten winners were honoured.

Bu Melha, who is also Adviser to the Ruler of Dubai for Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs, said the Award, which started with two sections in 1997, has branched out to 12 categories in 2014 and has seen the participation of 160 countries over its 18-year history.

"This is basically due to the constant support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

"The ceremony this year coincided with the 10th anniversary of the death of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE, Godfather of all Emiratis, prudent leader, and noble man," he said.

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