UAE- Shaikha Hind Bint Maktoum Quran contest tests postponed

DUBAI 22nd December 2015 (WAM) -- The organising committee of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award has announced the postponement of the initial and final tests of the 17th edition of the Shaikha Hind Bint Maktoum Holy Quran Award.

Ibrahim Bu Melha Head of the Award Organising Committee and Adviser to the Ruler of Dubai for Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs said the move is in response to the request of several Quran study centres across the country. "They requested postponement of the tests because most of the students are on their midyear holiday while others have travelled home to their original countries and will come back later" he said adding that most applicants for the seven-branch contest which is one of the main sections of the 13-category Dubai International Holy Quran Award are school students.

"Initial tests shall accordingly be held on January 9th for Quran memorisers of the Quran centres in Al Ain city and contestants from Dubai will be tested from January 10th-12th" he said.

The initial tests for Quran study centres in Ajman and Umm Al Qaiwain will be run on January 13th while Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah contestants will sit for tests on January 14th he elaborated. "Initial tests for Abu Dhabi participants will be held on January 16th."

Bu Melha stated that the final tests will be run from January 30th to February 9th. "The concluding ceremony for male contestants will be held on February 16th while top female winners will be honoured on February 17th."

Participation in the 17th edition of the Shaikha Hind Bint Maktoum Holy Quran Award is open for both male and female young memorisers of the Holy Quran nationals or residents up to age 21.

"Application in the Popular Award previously known as the Local Quran Contest was valid from Sunday October 11th to Sunday October 29th this year as per the terms and conditions announced by the organising committee" he said.

Participants in the first category be they Emiratis or residents need to memorise the Holy Quran in full (30 parts) whereas applicants for the second and third branches have to learn by heart 20 and ten parts in turn he explained. "Residents up to 10 years old may compete in the 5-part category while Emiratis up to 10 year old may participate in the 3-part category."

Full Quran memorisers who should have participated in a previous edition of the same contest may compete in the 7th category dedicated for Qiraat (Rewayas) or art of recitation - spanning the schools of Warsh Qaloon and Al Duri. "Residents up to 21 years old who memorise the Quran in full may also participate in this category while female contestants have no age limit."

Bu Melha said Emiratis be they men of women and of any age may however compete in any of the award seven categories except the 6th one which is only open for memorisers up to 10 years old. "The contest named after the wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai is gaining popularity among Quran memorisers across the country."