RIYADH: Saudi Arabia inaugurated the first King Salman Competition for Memorizing the Qur’an and Sunnah of the Prophet on Tuesday in Nouakchott, Mauritania.

Organized by the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs in cooperation with Mauritania’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Original Education, the event runs from Oct. 15-19.

A total of 136 contestants from 16 West African nations are competing, judged by a panel of 10 experts. The prize pool is SR1,218,000 ($324,000).

Mauritania’s Minister of Islamic Affairs Sidi Yahya Ould Cheikhna Ould Lemrabet expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia for hosting the competition in Mauritania, reflecting the country’s care for the Qur’an and Sunnah.

The competition’s preliminary rounds run until Oct. 17, with the final ceremony on Oct. 19, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Alongside the competition, Saudi Ambassador to Mauritania Abdulaziz Al-Raqqabi inaugurated the Jusoor Exhibition on Sunday.

The exhibition features more than 12 interactive sections, including areas focused on the Qur’an, photography, Saudi attire, the Two Holy Mosques, Arabic calligraphy, technology, hospitality, and children’s activities.

A large screen showcases Saudi Arabia’s efforts in serving Islam and Muslims globally. The sections highlight the Kingdom’s cultural, scientific, Shariah and linguistic contributions, as well as its initiatives in supporting the Qur’an, Sunnah, and holy sites.

The exhibition aims to strengthen ties between Africa and Saudi Arabia, allowing African nations to benefit from the services of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. It also promotes the Kingdom’s message of moderation and rejection of extremism.

“We in Mauritania are proud of this choice, which reflects our identity,” Lemrabott said, pledging full efforts to ensure the competition’s success and its future growth.

The competition encourages Muslim youth to engage with the Qur’an through memorization, understanding and reflection. It also promotes healthy competition among participants and underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to teaching the Qur’an and spreading the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

The Mauritanian minister highlighted the competition’s positive impact on participants, allowing them to compete honorably in Qur’an memorization and recitation, with the prizes serving as a valuable incentive. 

He said that Mauritanian contestants has prepared diligently for the competition, expecting them to impress others with their Qur’anic memorization and recitation skills.

Lemrabott expressed gratitude to King Salman for sponsoring the competition and thanked President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani for his support of Qur’an memorization and recitation.

The minister emphasized the important role of the Jusoor Exhibition in offering visitors insights into Saudi Arabia’s history and its efforts in preserving the Qur’an and Sunnah.

“This exhibition is a great opportunity to educate the Mauritanian people about this history,” he said.

RIYADH: has become a world-leading facility for organ transplantation.

KFSHRC’s Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence has garnered international acclaim for its expertise in solid-organ transplants, including liver, kidney and lung procedures, said the hospital in a statement on Monday.

In the past year, the hospital successfully conducted 1,092 transplants.

KFSHRC has performed a series of groundbreaking surgeries, most notably the world’s first liver transplant from a living donor using robotic technology in both organ retrieval and implantation.

Building on this success, the surgical team recently completed the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant, further solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in healthcare innovation.

Since the program’s inception in 1981, the hospital has performed 9,000 successful transplants.

Recognizing the critical challenge of donor-patient compatibility, particularly in kidney transplants, KFSHRC established the pioneering Kidney Paired Donation program.

This program facilitates the exchange of living donors with incompatible blood types and tissues between multiple patients, significantly increasing the pool of available organs and reducing waiting times.

The KPD program has enabled KFSHRC to perform over 5,000 kidney transplants.

KFSHRC’s commitment extends beyond the transplant surgery itself. Understanding prevention’s crucial role in patient well-being, the hospital established a specialized vaccination clinic for solid-organ transplant recipients in 2023.

This clinically tailored vaccination plans for each patient’s unique immune status and type of transplant, minimizes the risk of infections that could compromise outcomes.

The clinic has already served over 150 patients, achieving a high compliance rate for the Shingrix vaccine.

For the second consecutive year, KFSHRC has secured the top spot in the Middle East and Africa, and ranks 20th among the world’s top 250 academic medical centers.

Brand Finance recognized the facility as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Middle East for 2024.

Newsweek magazine also included the facility among the world’s best 250 hospitals and in the World’s Best Smart Hospitals list for 2025.