Iqra Reading Competition Crowns Six Finalists After Epic Journey

From a pool of over 192,000 applicants, six readers from five Arab countries have reached the final stage of the tenth annual “Iqra” Reading Competition. The prestigious event, organized by the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), an Aramco Saudi initiative, has become a regional beacon for literary passion, culminating in the selection of these finalists whose personal stories testify to the transformative power of books.

Each finalist’s journey to the finals reveals a unique relationship with literature:

Abdullah Al-Bahrani (Saudi Arabia): For Al-Bahrani, reading was a refuge discovered in his mother’s library. After attending an “Iqra” ceremony a decade ago as a spectator, he was inspired to one day participate. The competition, he says, has connected him with fellow bibliophiles and deepened his understanding of what reading truly means, marking not an end but “the beginning of a path.”
Younes El-Bekkali (Morocco): Raised in a book-filled home, El-Bekkali saw “Iqra” as a validation of his lifelong passion. He admits to battling nerves and self-doubt throughout the stages, but discovered an unexpected strength in the books that had long accompanied him. The experience, he notes, “quietly reshaped” his life, restoring balance and clarity.
Sara Ben Ammar (Morocco): Ben Ammar turned to books when she felt real life was too narrow for her questions. She found the expansiveness she craved only in reading. For her, “Iqra” taught a crucial lesson: that reading is not an escape from the world, but a deeper way to engage with it and understand oneself.
Amin Chaabane (Tunisia): Chaabane began his journey with simple curiosity, never expecting to advance from nearly 200,000 participants. With each successful round, his confidence grew. Reaching the top six, he realized the competition was more than a contest—it was a journey toward “a deeper version of himself,” proving that reading is a companion that never lets go.

The “Iqra” competition continues to demonstrate that its mission extends far beyond a simple contest. It is a platform where personal libraries and life stories intertwine, revealing how words can open unseen doors and fundamentally reshape a person’s world.