Makkah, Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz honoured the winners of the 44th edition of King Abdulaziz International Competition for Memorization, Recitation and Interpretation of the Holy Quran. This year, the competition drew 174 competitors from 123 countries, with a total prize pool of SAR 4 million. This tribute came during the closing ceremony organised by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance in the Grand Mosque, attended by several princes, ministers, scholars, ambassadors of Arab and Islamic countries, government officials, and mosque preachers in the Makkah region, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance, delivered a speech in which he stated that this competition affirms Saudi Arabia's interest and concern for the Holy Quran. Source: Bahrain News Agen cy