Registration Opens for 38th National Qur’an Competition with New Presidential Scholarships

The National Centre for the Holy Qur’an has announced that auditions for the 38th National Qur’an Competition will open tomorrow. Aspiring participants can submit their applications through the official portal on the Centre's website until May 18. To ensure broader accessibility and heighten the level of competition, the Centre has introduced several amendments to the competition rules. The contest is open to Maldivian residents under the age of 26, who may enter as individual participants. Starting in 2026, the competition will adopt a three-tier structure consisting of audition, semi-final, and final rounds. To accommodate various skill levels and ages, the competition is divided into eight age groups, with a dedicated category specifically for Huffaz (those who have memorized the Qur’an). Auditions will be conducted in Malé and selected islands to allow participants to compete at the location most convenient for them. From these auditions, the top 500 participants scoring within the upper 80 percent of each category will advance to the semi-finals. The competition narrows further for the finals, where only the top 150 participants scoring above 85 percent will qualify. The grand finale will take place in Malé, with the government providing travel allowances for eligible participants arriving from other islands. Winners will be selected across three main categories: recitation, recitation by heart, and the Hafiz category. Beyond the prestige of the title, winners will receive a Presidential Award. Most notably, the competition now offers a special Presidential Scholarship for the winners of each category. This scholarship provides a significant opportunity for youth to pursue higher education in their chosen field, covering studies up to the postgraduate level in a country of their choice.