DUBAI: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, crowned Hatem Mohammed Jassim Al Tarkawi from Syria, Kadi bint Musaffar Al Khathaami from Saudi Arabia, and Salsabil Hassan Sawalha from Palestine as the 2024 Arab Reading Champions. The event, held at Dubai Opera, marked the conclusion of the 8th Arab Reading Challenge, which attracted an unprecedented 28 million students from over 229,000 schools across 50 countries. According to Emirates News Agency, the Arab Reading Challenge is the world's largest Arabic reading initiative, organized by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI). This year's event saw substantial participation, with guidance from more than 154,000 supervisors. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum highlighted the importance of knowledge as a foundation for societal progress and expressed pride in the young generation's passion for reading. He congratulated the champions and all participants, emphasizing their role in embracing books and reading as a way of life. The Arab Reading Champions were awarded AED500,000 each for their achievements. Second place was secured by Omar Abdul Latif from Egypt, who received AED100,000, while Sulaiman Al Shumaimari from Kuwait claimed third place with a prize of AED70,000. The 'Best School' title was awarded to Al Ibdaa' Model School - Cycle 1 from the UAE, with a prize of AED1 million, recognizing its significant contribution to promoting reading among its students. The ceremony, attended by over 1,500 guests, also recognized winners in various categories, including "Outstanding Supervisor," "Community Champion," and "People of Determination Champion." The 'Community Champion' title was awarded to Mohammed Abdul Fattah Al-Refaie from Sweden, while the 'People of Determination' champion was Mohammed Ahmed Hassan Abdul Halim from Egypt. The event featured remarks by Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Secretary-General of MBRGI, who stressed the challenge's role in cultivating a love for reading and equipping young generations with the tools necessary for building a prosperous future. He noted the challenge's success since its launch in 2015-2016, with 131 million students participating from 795,000 schools, reflecting its widespread impact. The Arab Reading Challenge aims to empower young people to express their identity in Arabic, foster cultural exchange, and promote tolerance and coexistence, contributing to a global dialogue. Sheikh Mohammed extended his gratitude to educational institutions in participating countries for their instrumental role in the challenge's success.