Arab Reading Challenge TV show’s judging panel revealed

The first episode of the Arab Reading Challenge TV revealed the judging panel whose members will evaluate the semi-finalists as they fiercely compete for the grand title: the Arab Reading Champion. 

Millions of viewers across the Arab world will see Bahraini poet and TV presenter Dr Barween Habib, Tunisian author Dr. Layla Al Obaidi and Syrian actor and director Jamal Suleiman as they challenge the 16 semi-finalists, who come from 14 Arab countries, through questions and activities to evaluate their comprehension of texts, critical thinking and analytical skills, teamwork spirit, creative expression and Arabic articulation of ideas through a different set of tests and activities.

The three judges were selected based on their literary expertise and strong command of the Arabic language, in line with the goals of the Arab Reading Challenge.   

Through different elimination stages, the panel will select five finalists through seven episodes, leading up to the final episode that will broadcast the winner announcement live from Dubai Opera. 

The weekly show started airing on Friday, September 27 at 9pm on MBC1, documenting the journey of contestants as they partake edutainment challenges. 

Dr. Al Obaidi’s academic and linguistic expertise and immense knowledge got her on board in this year’s Arab Reading Challenge, while Dr. Habib’s academic and technical language expertise, besides her media expertise, have added value to the show. 

Meanwhile, Suleiman harnessed his artistic and vast literary expertise to guide and evaluate contestants’ use of body language, voice and movement to deliver a message.    

The three-member judging panel follows rigorous evaluation tools and mechanisms to assess contestants on the academic and technical fronts, besides adopting careful personality evaluation measures.  

The Arab Reading Challenge TV show aims to highlight young readers to inspire Arab youth to follow suit and turn reading into a lifestyle. The show seeks to raise the importance of reading in developing young personalities who will be tomorrow’s leader, while highlighting the persistence that distinguished the contestants across the Arab world and got them to the semi-finals.

About the judges:

Layla Al Obaidi’s long academic journey 

Tunisian Al Obaidi earned her PhD in Arabic language and literature, Master’s Degree in Arabic and Islamic Culture and Bachelor’s Degree in Arabic language and literature from Tunisia’s Manouba University. 

Al Obaidi is currently a professor in Arabic language at Sharjah University and the President of the Arabic Language Protection Association. She was previously a professor at the literature and humanities department in Tunisia’s Manouba University and at the Higher Institute for the Humanities in Tunisia’s Al Manar University.

Her book “Al Fakh in Islam” (Humor in Islam) earned Al Obaidithe Sheikh Zayed Book Award in Abu Dhabi. Al Obaidi is credited with several articles on women’s rights in Islam, mysticism, poverty, and globalisation. She has participated in a number of national and international forums.

Dr. Barween Habib’s success in culture and media 

Bahraini Poet, researcher and media personality Habib won the George Washington University’s Dynamic Women of the Year award in 2011. 

She earned a PhD in literary criticism with distinction after her dissertation that addressed women’s language in poetry in the Gulf 1975-2004.

She also earned her Master’s Degree in literary criticism with distinction from Cairo’s Ain Shams University after her extensive study and critique of Nezar Qabani’s work. 

Habib has a long list of notable literary work including two books, and three poetry collections. Her poems were translated to seven languages, with some of her books currently taught as part of high school curriculum in Bahrain. She received the Emirates Women Award in Career Achievements in May 2016 and the Dubai-based Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Awards in April 2017. 

Jamal Suleiman: the godfather of Arab Cinema

Suleiman is a Syrian actor and director whose roles in Syrian and Egyptian television series earned him wide popularity in the Arab world.  

Suliman studied at the acting department of the Higher Theatrical Arts Institute in Damascus, starting off his career in theatre in Syria. He then continued his studies in the UK and obtained his Master’s in theatrical studies from Leeds University. 

He is widely known for his various theatre, TV and film performances, coming into prominence with the historical television series Salah Al-din. Some of his notable work includes Al Arrab(the Godfather), El Kourban (The Sacrifice) and Hadaeq Al Shaytan(Gardens of the Devil).  

On the humanitarian level, Suleiman has been involved in several humanitarian missions in Syria and abroad including the King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan. In 1996, he was named as the ambassador of the United Nations Population Fund. 

Suleiman holds numerous awards including his honor at the Damascus Film Festival and the best TV actor award he received at the Cairo Radio and Television Festival for his role in Hadaeq Al Shaytan(Gardens of the Devil). He was also honored at the Malmö International Film Festival in Sweden in 2012, while the Arab Union of Producers honored his work during his career in Egypt.