Syrian child Mahmoud Omran wins Arab Reading Challenge in People of Determination category

Syrian child Mahmoud Omran won first place in the People of Determination category at the 10th edition of the Arab Reading Challenge. He was honored at a grand closing ceremony in Dubai celebrating champions of reading and knowledge from across the Arab world and beyond.

Mahmoud’s achievement came after a rigorous competition in a category that requires participants to read 25 books and pass assessments conducted by a specialised panel. His success is an inspiring example of perseverance and determination, showing how a passion for knowledge can help overcome obstacles.

The 10th edition of the global reading initiative attracted record-breaking participation, with 40,286,428 students from 60 countries taking part. Among them were 74,062 students in the People of Determination category, a 24% increase over the previous edition. The initiative also involved 138,426 schools and 161,507 supervisors.