Mayar El Shorbagy of Egypt was crowned champion of the Arab Reading Challenge 2026 during the closing ceremony held in Dubai after a competition that brought together six reading champions from across the Arab world. Palestinian student Ghazal Tayem secured second place, while Saudi student Rayan Al-Sukari came third.
The results were announced in a festive atmosphere following the final evaluation round, in which the six contestants appeared before a live audience. Each contestant was given one minute to answer a direct question before the audience participated in selecting the champion most deserving of the title.
Mayar El Shorbagy achieved a remarkable accomplishment after a reading journey that included 60 books. She qualified to represent Egypt from among 17,616,289 participants before reaching the final stage and claiming first place across the Arab world.
During the final competition, Mayar gave a notable response when asked about the meaning of reaching first place. She said that “number one is not just a position we compete for, but rather the mind of a person who knows no impossible”, noting that reading helped build her personality, expand her dreams and develop her ability to think, be ambitious and shape the future.
Second place went to 16-year-old Palestinian student Ghazal Tayem, who read 243 books and qualified to represent Palestine from among 712,765 participants. During the final competition, she gave a thoughtful answer about the impact of literature and philosophy on shaping human consciousness, saying that “literature made me a person who feels the pain of her nation”.
Third place was awarded to 11-year-old Saudi student Rayan Al-Sukari, who read 260 books and qualified to represent Saudi Arabia from among more than two million participants. During the final evaluation, he spoke about the morals of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), stressing that reading is a means of building character and instilling the values of honesty, trustworthiness and justice.
The crowning of the three champions reflects the intellectual and cultural impact of the Arab Reading Challenge, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to promote the Arabic language and foster a love of reading among new generations.
