Sultan Qaboos Holy Quran contest winners to be announced on Sunday

Winners of the year-long Sultan Qaboos Holy Quran Competition Award, instituted by the Diwan of Royal Court and the Sultan Qaboos Centre for Culture and Science, will be announced on Sunday at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.

The coveted award, currently in its 32nd edition, comprises seven levels and has been open to contestants from the age of 8 and winners in all categories will be feted at the ceremony.

Speaking to the Observer, Majid bin Khamis al Mahdhouri, representative of the organisers, said that there were 1,638 male and female contestants in the competition’s different levels.

During the award ceremony to be held on Sunday, the top three winners from each level of the competition will be felicitated, while consolation prizes will be given away to top three finishers from each level.

Al Mahdhouri further said that the competition is aimed at encouraging Omanis to memorise the Holy Quran and pursue the guidance of its teachings, in addition to enhancing the presence of the Sultanate of Oman in international Quranic contests.

“The response from the general public was overwhelming and we are to finalise on 1,638 contestants for the various rounds. From these participants, the eminent panel of judges that comprise scholars will select three winners from each category as well as three who have finished top,” he said.

Competitions were held in as many as 25 centres in different governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, and they are distributed as Nizwa, Samayil, Ibra, Suhar, Shinas, Al Rustaq, Al Suwaiq, Bahla, Dibba, Madha, Khasab, Sur, Jaalan Bani Bu Hassan, Qurayat, Al Amerat, Salalah, Thamrait, Ibri, Al Buraimi, Barka, Sinaw, Al Duqm, Al Khoud, Al Khuwair, and in Central Prison.