reading

Eleven-year-old Egyptian student Mayar Mohammed has won the 2026 Arab Reading Challenge in Dubai, receiving Dh500,000 after reading more than 60 books during the competition.

She plans to use the prize money to establish a library at her school, giving fellow students greater access to books. Palestine’s 16-year-old Gazal Teem secured second place, while Saudi Arabia’s Rian Al Zakri, 11, finished third.

This year’s competition attracted more than 40.2 million students from 60 countries, highlighting the initiative’s growing international reach and its mission to encourage reading, strengthen Arabic literacy and inspire young minds.

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