Team Sultan Qaboos University Crowned Champion of Third Asian Arabic Debating Championship (AADC3)

Darul Huda Islamic University (DUIU) Named Best Non-Native Arabic Team in Muscat

Muscat, November 1, 2025: QatarDebate Center ended on Saturday evening 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 H.E. Prof. Dr. Rahma Bint Ibrahim Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MOHERI) of the Sultanate of Oman; H.E. Basil bin Ahmed al Rawas, Undersecretary for Sports and Youth in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MCSY) of the Sultanate of Oman; and H.E. Engineer Yasser bin Abdullah Al-Jamal, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth of the State of Qatar and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of QatarDebate Center, 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.   

Closing Ceremony

In her address during the closing ceremony, Dr. Hayat A. Maarafi, Executive Director, QatarDebate Center, stated 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.

Dr. Hayat A. Maarafi added that the Championship served as a platform where young debaters met to engage and compete in constructive educational debates that reflected the collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and The Ministry Sports and Youth of The Sultanate of Oman, the Oman Debate Center, and QatarDebate Center, reflecting a shared vision and belief that debate is a key component for youth empowerment.

“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.

Al Shamakhi added that the Championship aligns with Oman Vision 2040, which places the human being at the center of development and emphasizes the importance of dialogue, critical thinking, and conscious participation in decision-making.

“Debating,” he said, “is not merely a competition in rhetoric and persuasion, it is a school for life experiences and the pathway for leaders. Through debating, young students debaters learn the values of active listening, accepting different viewpoints of their opponent debaters, and building their arguments based on research, scientific and ethical foundations. This Championship helped to empower the students debaters, to become rational and influential voices in contemporary topics and issues of their communities and their respective nations.”

Wide Asian Participation

Organized through a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Culture and The Ministry of Sports and Youth of The Sultanate of Oman, QatarDebate Center, and its Omani counterpart, the Championship brought together 40 Teams representing 16 Asian countries, featuring a total of 140 debaters who engaged in intellectually stimulating debate rounds.

The debates tackled pressing contemporary issues facing youth such as sustainable development, education, and cultural identity within the regional and global contexts.

Building on the success of its previous two editions, the Championship reaffirmed the organizers’ commitment to fostering a culture of constructive dialogue among Asian youth.

The Winners of the Championship

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.

Top 10 Speakers in the Arabic Category:

The Top Speaker, and debater, member of the Qatar University Team, who came third in AADC3, stated: 'As a student debater, I began my educational journey as a debater, member of the Qatar National Debating Team in 2021, this enable me to become a skilled debater with a remarkable expressive abilities and insightful analytical skills for discussing motions and topics. I have continued to seek improvements through learning, research and personal capacity building to achieve my goals as a student today and a leader tomorrow. Debating is not a momentary phase of learning, it is a continuous and consistent effort to become a better debater, to challenge, compete and improve through the practice of the art of debating, grounded in knowledge, discipline, and accuracy of argumentation. I am privileged to have participate in this third edition of the AADC3, where I aimed to represent my fellow debate team members, my university (Qatar University), and my beloved country The State of Qatar, in the best possible way. Thankfully, I succeeded in achieving a top position.” 

Top 5 Speakers in the Non-Native Speakers Category:

A Comprehensive Experience

This year’s edition of The AADC3 debate championship featured various programs including debate training workshops that honed participants’ critical thinking and communication skills.

The program also included para-educational programs such as visits to key landmarks in Muscat and attending a Omani cultural event, offering participants a rich cultural, social, and artistic experience.

An international panel of qualified debate adjudicators ran the debate adjudicating process based on a set list of criteria including and not limited to in-depth arguments, linguistics, critical and analytical thinking and timing which ensured fair and transparent results.