Saudi Arabia Organizes Fourth International Qur’an Competition for Balkan Countries

The preliminary rounds of the Fourth International Holy Qur’an Competition for the Balkan Countries have begun in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, bringing together hundreds of Qur’an memorizers from across the Balkans and participating European countries.

Organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, represented by the religious attaché at the Saudi Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the competition features 200 contestants representing 29 countries.

Participants will compete across five categories during the coming days under criteria established by specialized judging panels.

Cooperation With North Macedonia’s Islamic Community

This year’s competition is being organized in cooperation with the Islamic Religious Community of North Macedonia, reflecting continued cooperation between the Kingdom and Islamic institutions in the Balkan region.

The event brings together a distinguished group of Qur’an memorizers from Balkan states as well as other participating European countries.

The international format gives young participants from different cultures and communities an opportunity to meet, compete and strengthen their engagement with Qur’anic studies.

200 Contestants From 29 Countries

The scale of participation is one of the highlights of the fourth edition, with 200 contestants from 29 countries gathering in Skopje.

The contestants are competing across five categories, with specialized judging panels overseeing the different stages of the competition according to established assessment criteria.

The preliminary rounds will continue over the coming days as contestants advance through the competition.

Encouraging New Generations to Memorize the Qur’an

Beyond competition, the initiative seeks to encourage younger generations to memorize the Holy Qur’an, reflect on its meanings and apply its teachings.

International Qur’an competitions also provide participants with opportunities to develop their memorization and recitation skills while meeting fellow contestants from different countries.

The event therefore serves both as a competitive platform and as a meeting point for young Qur’an memorizers across the region.

Supporting Islamic Cooperation Across the Balkans

The competition forms part of the Kingdom’s wider efforts to serve the Holy Qur’an and strengthen cooperation with Islamic institutions internationally.

It also promotes the values of moderation and tolerance, while supporting initiatives that encourage younger generations to engage with the Qur’an and its teachings.

By bringing together contestants from 29 countries, the fourth edition further expands the competition’s international reach and strengthens connections among Islamic communities and institutions across the Balkans and Europe.