Rabat – Two Moroccan contestants, Mariam Ahmed Bouad and Fatima Ammar Kettani, are set to participate in the grand finale of the ninth edition of the “Iqra” competition, organized by the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), an initiative of Saudi Aramco.
This year’s edition is held under the theme “Reading: A Bridge to Progress.” It will take place on October 11 and 12 at the Ithra Center in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
The competition aims to promote reading culture and appreciation for knowledge within youth of the region, as well as enhance critical reading and creative writing skills among participants.
Bouad and Kettani are among 10 finalists from seven Arabic countries competing in both the final text presentations and debate categories for the title of ”Arab Reader of the Year.” The audience will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite contestant in the People’s Choice Award.
The ceremony will feature Nobel Prize winners in Literature, Abdulrazak Gurnah and Olga Tokarczuk, as well as a cultural program including discussions with Saudi critic Abdullah Al-Ghodamy, a poetry performance by Mohammed Abdoubari, and a book exchange fair. The event will also feature several book-signing platforms.
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According to the organizers, this year’s edition attracted over 106,000 participants from across the Arab world, with the 10 finalists coming from Saudi Arabia, Syria, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, and Iraq.
According to Tarek Al-Khawaji, cultural advisor at the Ithra Center, the “Iqra’ competition exemplifies Ithra’s commitment to enhancing reading as a vital means of knowledge enrichment for future generations. The initiative aims to inspire 100,000 young people by 2030 and contribute to developing local and Arab talents in critical reading and creative writing, he added.
Over the course of its nine editions, the “Iqra” competition has seen participation from over 225,000 contestants, with 48,000 educational hours and contributions from more than 600 speakers hailing from 30 countries worldwide.
