Muscat, October 15 (QNA) - Qatar Debate Center (QDC), a member of Qatar Foundation, announced that Oman will host the 3rd Asian Arabic Debating Championship 2025, from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 2025, in Muscat.

The event is organized jointly by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth of Oman, QDC, and Oman Debate Center.

This came during a press conference held in Muscat, marking a significant milestone in supporting dialogue and cultural understanding among youth across the Asian continent, and highlighting the role of the Arabic language as a global medium of thought and communication.

The event also comes as part of joint efforts to promote the art of debate in educational institutions and to develop skills in public speaking, critical analysis, and structured, methodical expression of opinion.

Director of Programs at QDC, Abdulrahman bin Ibrahim Al Subaie, stated that the event will convene approximately 40 educational institutions across 18 Asian countries, including flagship universities and colleges.

A total of 145 debaters will compete in an intellectually vibrant atmosphere that respects differences and values cultural and epistemological diversity.

The contest continues to flourish both in scope and scale compared to the first debate, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with the participation of 26 teams. Oman's hosting bid was the most comprehensive and phenomenal, due to its experience and resources that qualify it to organize successful international competitions, Al Subaie highlighted.

For his part, Director General of the Youth Directorate at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth of Oman, Hilal bin Saif Al Siyabi, affirmed that hosting this contest reflects Oman's success in organizing the second edition in 2023, which included nearly 400 students from universities and colleges across Asia and achieved wide resonance in academic and youth circles.

Ministry will continue to support such events, which strengthen youth engagement, hone their skills, and contribute to constructive dialogue on global and humanitarian issues, consistently with the objectives of the National Youth Strategy and Oman Vision 2040, Al Siyabi said.

  CEO of Oman Debate Center, Nasser bin Hamid Al Hunai, affirmed that the championship aims to consolidate the principles of constructive dialogue and respect for diverse opinions, encourage critical thinking and objective analysis of contemporary issues, and foster loyalty to the Arabic language, using it as a medium of intellectual and cultural expression.

Overall, the championship represents a premier youth event, aiming to build participants' capacities in critical thinking, promote a culture of dialogue, and develop communication skills in modern standard Arabic, creating an influential intellectual platform that prepares a generation aware of its era's issues and capable of engaging in discussion and debate with an open and responsible mindset.

The official opening ceremony of the championship will commence on Oct. 28, 2025, and will conclude on Nov. 1, 2025, with the announcement of winners and the crowning of participating teams in a celebratory environment that merges thought, youth, and culture. (QNA)