Saudi Arabia has introduced a women’s category for the first time in the prestigious King Abdulaziz International Quran Memorization, Recitation, and Interpretation Competition. The 46th edition of the event, held annually at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, will now officially include female participants. King Salman bin Abdulaziz approved the decision following a proposal from the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz, according to the Saudi Press Agency report published on May 10.

The competition, launched in 1979, is regarded as one of the Muslim world’s most respected Quranic events. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs described the inclusion of women as a major milestone in the contest’s history, emphasizing that it opens the international platform equally to both male and female Quran scholars.

The closing ceremony of this year’s competition is scheduled for August 19.