Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Faisal Mohammad Al Harthi was declared the winner of the 19th Dubai International Holy Quran Award at an impressive ceremony at the Dubai Scientific and Cultural Association on Tuesday.
The USA’s Hamzah Al Habashy and 12-year-old Bangladeshi Mohammad Zakaria came a close second and third. Zakaria also won the most beautiful voice contest, which is a sub-category of the annual event.
Al Harthi walked away with Dh250,000 in cash, while Al Habashy and Zakaria won Dh200,000 and 150,000 respectively.
Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme President of the Family Developmen Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, was honoured with the Islamic Personality of the Year Award.
Every year the award is given away to a noted Islamic figure for their contributions to the Islamic society and the world in general.
Honouring the Mother of the Nation, Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, said: “Shaikha Fatima is a great role model for all Muslim women for her service and contribution to humanity. Honouring her is the honour for the award itself.”
As many as 76 contestants from around the world participated in the prestigious competition that ran for 12 nights.
Indonesian Abdurrahim Syamsuri Jono bagged the fourth position, while Mohammad Al Durouqi won fifth place.
Sixth place went to Yemeni Abdul Majeed Al Samawi, and Sudan’s Al Fateh Hamoud stood seventh.
Sangare Kalid from Ivory Coast, Hasan Samoh from Thailand and Abdul Rahmand Abdul Hadi from Egypt bagged the eighth, ninth and tenth positions respectively.
