President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced new measures to elevate the National Quran Recitation Competition, introducing a special Presidential Scholarship that covers education up to PhD level. The scholarship will be awarded to the first-place winners of the overall competition, who will also receive a cash prize of MVR 100,000.

The initiative follows the President’s vision to make the National Quran Recitation Competition the most prestigious and highly rewarded competition in the Maldives. This year’s changes highlight his commitment to recognising and honouring excellence in Quran recitation.

From this year onwards, first-place winners in the overall memorised recitation, unmemorised recitation, and Hafiz categories will be granted the Presidential Scholarship, allowing them to pursue studies up to PhD level in any field and country of their choice. In addition, these winners, along with the institution securing first place in the institutional category, will each receive MVR 100,000 and a Presidential Plaque of Honour.

The President also announced that prizes across the various age categories will be increased compared with previous years. He further pledged to create opportunities for private individuals and organisations to contribute prizes to the competition.