87 Contestants Expected at Dubai Int’l Quran Award
“The committee has contacted over 120 countries and communities across the globe, but only 87 countries have confirmed participation so far,” said Ibrahim Bu Melha, chairman of the organising committee of the award, Gulf Today reported.
Bu Melha said the award this year will see the first Emirati arbitrator as part of a five-member jury. “Sheikh Jassem Al Amiri is one of the successes of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award, who have been trained and dispatched to other international Quran competitions worldwide to hone their skills.”
The jury includes four other arbitrators from different Arab countries, Dr Khalid Barakat from Lebanon, Sheikh Fouad Kamal Al Hassan, Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Samih Athamneh, Jordan, and Sheikh Salah Al Saghir, from Egypt.
“The jury panel strictly observes international standards in judging the performance of all contestants in terms of memorization and recitation during the preliminary qualifying tests, final examination, and the most beautiful recitation contest,” Bu Melha continued.
He said that two substitute arbitrators have also been assigned for emergency cases. “All the contest questions have been updated and revised by a special committee, including veteran Quran reciters and scholars.”
Bu Melha said that all public lectures and the International Quran Competition would be held at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the concluding ceremony will be held at the Cultural and Scientific Association, Mamzar, on Ramadan 20.
