MAKKAH: Participants in the 45th King Abdulaziz International Competition for the Memorization, Recitation and Interpretation of the Holy Qur’an visited the Makkah Clock Tower Museum, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

Organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, the visit was part of the cultural program prepared for 179 contestants from 128 countries.

During the tour, the contestants explored the museum’s sections and exhibits. The site is on the terrace of the tower adjacent to the Grand Mosque.

The contestants expressed their admiration for the museum, appreciating the Kingdom’s commitment to spreading knowledge in various fields and its dedication to serving Islam and Muslims.

They prayed to Allah to protect the Kingdom, its leadership and its people, and to grant it continued progress and prosperity.

This year’s contest, which concluded last week, featured intense competition marked by exceptional recitation quality, precise memorization, eloquent delivery and melodious voices.

The high level of performance reflected a deep global reverence for the Qur’an and signaled the emergence of a promising new generation of Qur’an memorizers worldwide, the SPA added.

The competition included five categories with total prizes exceeding SR4 million ($1 million), reaffirming its status as one of the most prestigious and well-established Qur’anic competitions in the world.

The event also featured an upgraded electronic judging system to ensure fairness and accuracy in scoring.

Large audiences at the Grand Mosque engaged warmly with the recitations and praised Saudi Arabia’s unwavering support for Qur’anic competitions and its dedication to serving Qur’an reciters.

Participants in the competition extended their heartfelt gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their continuous support of the Qur’an and its memorizers around the world.

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian crisis through peaceful means, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In a statement on Saturday, the ministry welcomed the Alaska summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, SPA added.

The ministry underscored the Kingdom’s backing for dialogue as the preferred path to settling international disputes and conflicts.

Saudi Arabia has consistently positioned itself as a supporter of mediation and diplomatic initiatives in global crises, maintaining communication with both Moscow and Kyiv while stressing the importance of stability and peace for international security.