DOHA, Qatar--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Under the patronage of HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, the third International Schools Arabic Debating Championship organized by QatarDebate, concluded. The championship took place at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) from April 10-13, 2016, and included 54 teams from Arab and non-Arab countries.

The Qatari team took first place in this year's edition of the International Schools Arabic Debating Championship, followed by the Syrian Arab Republic team and the Tunisian team in second and third place respectively.

In her address at the closing ceremony, Dr. Hayat Abdullah Maarafi, Executive Director of QatarDebate center, welcomed their Excellencies, guests and participants and expressed her pleasure to see such a great crowd in the Doha, "brought together by the Arabic language, despite their differences," she said.

Dr. Maarafi hailed the instrumental role of the debate, which contributed to strengthening the Arabic language and enriched our culture with diverse new ideas. She said: "The championship was the meeting place of heroes, and a melting pot to celebrate the differences and diversity of cultures and civilizations. It is a living proof that the Arabic language needs no defender; it can accommodate to all dialects and thoughts, while emphasizing the need to look for similarities in order to coexist peacefully, with respect and reconciliation. It also prompts us to reject the impurities that have been introduced by multiculturalism, to prepare future leaders capable of assuming the task of building nations."

Dr. Maarafi also appointed Professor Salem Al Shammakhi, from the Sultanate of Oman and Professor Thaer Farhat, from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, as new ambassadors for QatarDebate, in recognition of their role in spreading the culture of debating.

In conclusion, she extended her heartfelt thanks to HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation for sponsoring the event; to Mr Fahad Saad Al Qahtani, President Community Development at Qatar Foundation, for his support and presence at the closing ceremony, and to H.E Minister of Education and Higher Education, Secretary General of the Supreme Education Council Dr. Mohammad bin Abdul Wahed Al-Hammadi.

Towards the end of the ceremony, Mr. Al Qahtani took to the stage to honor the winners, along with H. E Dr. Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Turki Al Subaie, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the World Organization for Renaissance of Arabic Language (WORAL), and Dr. Hayat Abdullah Maarafi, Executive Director of QatarDebate center.

The World Organization for Renaissance of Arabic Language (WORAL) was also honored during the ceremony. H. E Dr. Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Turki Al Subaie received the award, in appreciation for organizing the events held on the sidelines of the championship.

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