Riyadh: The 28th edition of the local competition for the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Award for the Memorization, Recitation, and Interpretation of the Holy Quran has introduced major structural enhancements to its categories, prizes, and winner allocations.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the competition, organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance for both male and female contestants, has seen its total prize pool increase from SAR7 million to SAR9 million. This change underscores the Kingdom's commitment to supporting Quranic scholars and memorizers.

One of the key developments is the expansion of the first category to include the memorization of the entire Quran with 10 readings, an increase from the previously required seven readings.

Additionally, the number of awarded winners in both the first and second categories has increased from three to five places for each track across both male and female divisions.

These enhancements reflect the leadership's ongoing patronage and support for Quranic studies, motivating the Kingdom's youth to excel in recitation, memorization, and comprehension.