45th King Abdulaziz International Qur’an Competition Opens in Makkah

MAKKAH: The 45th King Abdulaziz International Competition for the Memorization, Recitation, and Interpretation of the Holy Qur’an commenced on Saturday at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, inaugurated by Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance Sheikh Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In his address, Al-Asheikh, who also serves as general supervisor for both local and international Qur’an competitions, said, “One of the greatest blessings bestowed by God upon Saudi Arabia is the honor of serving the Holy Qur’an and honoring its bearers, from the era of the founder, King Abdulaziz, until the era of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”

He expressed pride in the ministry’s role in organizing the prestigious event, which sees participants striving to perfect their memorization and recitation skills.

Held under the patronage of King Salman, this year’s competition features 179 contestants from 128 countries the largest number since the event began. Over six days, contestants will compete in two daily sessions, judged by an elite international panel from Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Uganda, and Albania.

Al-Asheikh emphasized that the ministry has “established clear guidelines for judging, ensuring fairness and transparency.”

The competition offers prizes totaling around SR4 million ($1.07 million), with an additional SR1 million allocated among all participants.

The opening ceremony was broadcast live on local and international media from a dedicated event media center set up by the ministry.