Makkah | August 15, 2025

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance today concluded the finals of the 45th King Abdulaziz International Competition for Memorization, Recitation and Interpretation of the Holy Quran, held over six days at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, with 179 contestants from 128 countries around the world taking part.

The competition saw strong rivalry among participants, marked by quality of recitation, mastery of memorization, beauty of performance and vocal excellence, reflecting the great care given to the Holy Quran and confirming the emergence of a promising Quran-literate generation from across continents. A panel of specialized international judges oversaw the finals, applying an advanced electronic judging system to ensure accuracy and fairness in scoring.

The event drew wide attendance and engagement from Grand Mosque visitors, who praised the Kingdom’s efforts in supporting Quran competitions and caring for those who memorize the Holy Book. Contestants expressed their gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince — may God protect them — for their patronage and attention to the Holy Quran, and praised the distinguished oversight of the Minister of Islamic Affairs in organizing the competition in a manner befitting the Kingdom’s standing and leading role.

This edition featured competition across five Quran-related branches, with prize money exceeding SR 4 million, making it one of the most prominent and prestigious Quran competitions in the world, with winners to be honored at the closing ceremony at the Grand Mosque.