In a ceremony held at the Dubai Expo complex, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum physically handed Mayar Othman Al Shourbagy his personal emirate badge, an act that followed her triumph over 40,286,428 students across 60 nations in the Arab Reading Challenge.
Mayar, an 11‑year‑old from Egypt, earned the title by reading 60 books and outscoring over 17 million contestants in her home country before advancing to the final round.
The 11‑year‑old broke into tears and knelt to kiss the floor, while the ruler kissed her head and embraced her, signaling a personal endorsement that echoed across social media.
The competition, launched in 2015 by Sheikh Mohammed, aims to promote Arabic literacy and has drawn 138,426 schools and 161,507 supervisors this year alone.
UAE officials say the event will open new scholarship pathways for Egyptian students and anticipate a joint educational summit in June 2026.