Doha, January 07 (QNA) - QatarDebate Center (QDC), established by Qatar Foundation (QF), announced the launch of the final rounds of the 7th edition of the International Arabic School Debating Championship, one of the key global initiatives aimed at establishing a culture of dialogue and enhancing the presence of the Arabic language in international forums.

In a statement, QatarDebate indicated that the first final competitions will begin next Friday and continue until Jan. 11 in Doha, with the participation of 16 teams that qualified for the decisive stages after intensive competitions witnessed in the preliminary qualifiers that began in May 2025, with the participation of 35 teams representing 35 countries.

This year's championship is being held according to an integrated competitive system that combines in-person attendance and remote monitoring, allowing for the widest range of interaction and diversity. The competitions will witness the participation of 12 teams in the open category, in addition to 4 teams from the Arabic language category for non-native speakers, in a model that reflects the global character of the tournament and the cultural and linguistic openness that distinguishes it, and confirms its message in promoting dialogue and understanding among young people from different countries of the world.

The 7th edition of the competition adopts a precise competitive system, according to which the open category teams are divided into two groups, each of which competes through five qualifying rounds, so that two teams from each group qualify for the semi-final round, in preparation for the final round during which the winning team is crowned champion.

The final rounds are characterized by the broad and diverse participation of school students from different countries around the world, during which they compete to present the best arguments and analyze current and contemporary issues, in an atmosphere of constructive dialogue based on respect for differences and acceptance of multiple viewpoints, while adhering to the standards of critical and logical thinking.

The tournament is judged by 24 international and local judges, carefully selected from over 100 candidates, according to a rigorous evaluation process, along with QatarDebate Center trainers, ambassadors, and members of the Elite Academy, ensuring the highest levels of integrity and transparency in judging, and enhancing the tournament's credibility and professional excellence.

In this context, Program Specialist at the QatarDebate Center Turki Al Suwaidi said that the final rounds highlight the pivotal role of debates in building the student's character and enhancing thinking, analytical and responsible dialogue skills. He expressed his happiness with this great cultural diversity that comes together on one platform whose discussions are conducted in Arabic, which contributes to preparing a generation that is aware and capable of dialogue and shaping the future.

The International Arabic School Debating Championship is a leading global platform that contributes to developing critical thinking and effective communication skills among young people, and promotes a spirit of fair competition, in addition to its role in spreading the Arabic language and enhancing its global standing among Arabic and non-Arabic speakers.

QatarDebate urged the public and those interested to follow the course of the championship and the closing ceremony through its official accounts on social media platforms, stressing that the tournament represents an inspiring dialogue space to build a generation capable of responsible thinking and facing the challenges of the future. (QNA)