DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: The Dubai International Holy Quran Award has recorded its biggest international response in 29 editions, with 20,500 applications from 135 countries for its 2026-27 competition.
The applications have come from Arab and Islamic countries as well as Muslim communities across every continent, underscoring the award’s growing reach beyond the UAE and the wider Gulf.
Registration for the 29th edition, corresponding to 1448H-2027, is scheduled to close Wednesday.
Egypt tops applications
Egypt leads the participation figures with 6,838 applications, followed by Indonesia with 1,923, Pakistan with 1,862 and Syria with 1,511.
The largest category is for male contestants aged 16 and above, which received 14,040 applications.
A separate category for male and female contestants below 16 attracted 6,495 applications, including 2,394 girls.
The participation figures reflect the broad age range of competitors and the international communities engaged in Quran memorization and recitation.
Award opens wider application route
The competition has expanded how participants can enter, allowing applications to be submitted directly as well as through nominations from applicants’ home countries or accredited Islamic centers.
The revised system follows changes introduced as part of a development programme that began during the previous edition.
The programme has also brought adjustments to competition categories, eligibility rules, judging procedures and participation arrangements.
Prizes exceed Dh12 million
The 29th edition comes with a prize pool of more than Dh12 million, including some of the largest individual awards in the competition’s history.
First-place winners in both the male category for contestants over 16 and the under-16 male and female category will each receive $1 million.
Second-place winners will receive $100,000 in each category, while third-place winners will receive $50,000.
A separate $1 million prize will be awarded to the recipient of the Global Quranic Personality recognition.
Dubai prepares for Ramadan stage
The competition will extend beyond the judging process during Ramadan.
A selected group of finalists will be invited to Dubai and given the opportunity to lead Taraweeh prayers at major mosques across the emirate.
The public will also have a role in the competition, with voting for the Most Beautiful Quran Recitation in the World scheduled for Feb. 8-16, 2027.
Before reaching the later stages, applications will undergo preliminary assessments covering areas including Tajweed, vocal performance, recitation quality and overall delivery.
A global community gathering
The award’s international participation also reflects Dubai’s position as a meeting point for Muslim communities from different countries and backgrounds.
For residents and diaspora communities in the UAE, large-scale Islamic programmes such as the Quran Award provide opportunities to engage with religious scholarship and traditions while connecting with participants from around the world.
The competition has been held for 28 previous editions. Since its launch, 7,826 contestants from 123 countries have taken part, while more than Dh67 million has been distributed in prize money.
The award has also recognized 24 individuals and three institutions through its Global Quranic Personality honour.
With applications now being assessed, attention will turn to the next stages of the competition, including the selection of finalists ahead of their participation in Dubai during Ramadan 2027.
