11-year-old Egyptian girl beats 40 million students to win Dh500,000 in Dubai

An 11-year-old Egyptian girl has captured the top prize of Dh500,000 at the 10th Arab Reading Challenge in Dubai, outperforming more than 40 million students from 60 countries in one of the world's largest reading competitions.

Mayar Othman Al Shourbagy was overcome with emotion when her name was announced as the winner at the grand finale held at the Dubai World Trade Centre recently. Jumping from her seat, she knelt to kiss the floor in gratitude before breaking down in tears. She received the trophy from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. In a particularly touching moment, Sheikh Mohammed kissed her on the head, embraced her and removed his own badge to pin it onto her clothing.

Mayar's victory came after an extraordinary journey through a competition that attracted 40,286,428 students from 60 countries, according to Gulf News.

From 17.6 million Egyptian participants to the global stage

Mayar had read 60 books and earned the opportunity to represent Egypt after emerging from a pool of more than 17.6 million participants in her home country.

The final round brought together six contestants, who faced questions before a live audience. Each finalist was given one minute to respond, with audience voting also playing a role in determining the winner. Reflecting on her achievement, Mayar credited her family and school for nurturing her love of reading and providing the encouragement she needed to reach the final.

“My mother, father and entire family supported me. My school also provided the right environment that enabled me to win this title,” she was quoted as saying by Gulf News. Her interest in literature began with poetry before gradually developing into a wider passion for books and the Arabic language.

A future in public service and a library for fellow students

For Mayar, the victory is not just about the prize money or personal recognition. The young reader has ambitions of becoming Egypt's Minister of Information, inspired by her admiration for Arabic and her determination to preserve and promote its cultural heritage.

She also urged other children to cultivate reading habits, stressing the importance of education and knowledge in overcoming conflict and creating a better future. In a gesture that reflects her commitment to sharing the benefits of education, Mayar plans to use her Dh500,000 prize money to help establish a library at her school, giving fellow students greater access to books and learning opportunities, The National reported. The 10th edition of the Arab Reading Challenge also recorded a 24 per cent increase in participation compared with the previous year, according to Khaleej Times. Mayar's achievement has turned an individual triumph into a wider message about the power of reading, family encouragement and access to knowledge — demonstrating how a young reader's ambition can inspire millions.