Habib bin Mohammed Al Riyami, SQHCCS Secretary-General said in a press conference that the number of applicants in this session amounted to 2,156 contestants, with an increase of 100 per cent compared to 2016, from 25 centers.
The total number of male participants in the competition was 1,063 while 1,113 were female contestants, the Times of Oman reported.
The categories included memorization of the entire Quran, and memorization of 24, 18, 12, 6 and 2 Juzes (parts) of the Holy Book with Tajweed.
Three Quran recitation and memorization experts formed the contest’s panel of judges.
The Sultan Qaboos Center for Sciences and Culture organizes the competition annually.
The competition is aimed at promoting Quran memorization among the youth and teenagers and identifying talents for participation in international Quranic events.