Dubai Intl. Holy Quran Award Opens to Girls for the First Time
Both male and female first-place winners will receive USD 1 million each.
For the first time in its 27-year history, the Dubai International Holy Quran Award will open its doors to female participants. Since its launch in 1997, the competition has welcomed over 2,100 contestants from 91 countries, recognising excellence in Quran memorisation and recitation.
The 2025 edition introduces significant changes designed to broaden access and encourage wider global participation. Most notably, all entrants can now self-nominate, removing the previous requirement for official country endorsements. The award categories have also been streamlined into three divisions: Male Award, Female Award, and Islamic Personality of the Year Award.
Both male and female first-place winners will receive USD 1 million each, while second and third places are awarded USD 100,000 and USD 50,000 respectively. The Islamic Personality of the Year Award, which honours outstanding individuals or organisations, also carries a USD 1 million prize.
To be eligible, contestants must be under 16 years old at registration and have memorised the Quran with proper recitation and tajweed—with past finalists and previous winners excluded from re-entry. The selection process unfolds in three stages: initial video recitation submissions, remote assessments via video calls, and a final in-person evaluation held in Dubai during Ramadan.
Registration opens on May 21st and closes on July 20th, 2025, through the official website www.quran.gov.ae.
