An 11-year-old Egyptian girl has won Dh500,000 after emerging victorious in a reading competition involving more than 40 million students from 60 countries. Mayar Othman Al Shourbagy was overcome with emotion as she received the top honour at the 10th Arab Reading Challenge in Dubai on October 29.
Mayar jumped from her seat when her name was announced, knelt to kiss the floor in gratitude and burst into tears, according to a Gulf News report. She received the trophy from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The competition’s 10th edition recorded a 24 per cent increase in participation compared with the previous year, according to Khaleej Times .
She said she hopes to become Egypt’s Minister of Information, driven by her admiration for Arabic and her desire to preserve its cultural significance.
