One of the winners with officials during the closing ceremony.
Muscat: QatarDebate Center concluded the Third edition of its Asian Arabic Debating Championship (AADC3) for universities, marking the conclusion of one of QatarDebate key debate championships that crowned the winners after a competitive educational program that marked the role of QatarDebate Center in intellectual and cultural exchange.
The closing ceremony was attended by Minister of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MOHERI) of the Sultanate of Oman, H E Prof. Dr. Rahma Bint Ibrahim Al Mahrouqi; Undersecretary for Sports and Youth in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MCSY) of the Sultanate of Oman, Basil bin Ahmed al Rawas; and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth of the State of Qatar and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of QatarDebate Center, Engineer Yasser bin Abdullah Al-Jamal who met with the participating Qatari students and commended their involvement in international events and their distinguished representation of the State of Qatar.
The Sultanate of Oman hosted the five-day competition at the Arab Open University in Seeb for the second consecutive year. At the conclusion of the contests, Team Sultan Qaboos University claimed the championship title in the Open Category, while Darul Huda Islamic University earned the title of Best Team in the Arabic Category for Non-Native Speakers, with participants showcasing outstanding talent and competitive spirit.
Executive Director, QatarDebate Center, Dr. Hayat A. Maarafi said that the Third Asian Arabic Debating Championship came in line with QatarDebate’s mission in youth empowerment through debate, dialogue and exchange of debaters’ different views and perspectives. Dr. Hayat A. Maarafi praised the organizers of the Sultanate of Oman for hosting this remarkable educational program, that highlighted the Center’s commitment to education and social progress, demonstrated through debate, argumentation, communication and understanding among students and academics.
“What began as a seed of faith in debate,” she said, “has today grown into a flourishing tree whose shade stretches from Doha to Oman, bearing continuous fruit wherever belief in the power of dialogue and its ability to drive change exists.”
For his part, Salem Al Shamakhi, Ambassador of QatarDebate Center, Founder of Oman Debates, and Vice Chairman of its Board of Directors, congratulated the winners, affirming that Oman’s hosting of the Championship represents a milestone in the intellectual and youth dialogue movement across Asia. He described it as a moment of national pride that reinforces Oman’s standing as a regional hub for constructive dialogue and the exchange of ideas, as well as a welcoming space for responsible thought and conscious diversity.
In the Arabic-Speaking Category, Team Sultan Qaboos University took first place, followed by Team Carnegie Mellon Qatar (CMU-Q) in second place, and Qatar University who came in third. In the Arabic Non-Native Speakers Category, Team Darul Huda Islamic University came first place, while Team Institut Muslim Cendekia (IMC) came in second.
