SALALAH: The third and final stage of the preliminary rounds for the ninth edition of the National Arabic Debating Championship got underway at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah, with the participation of eight teams representing the governorates of Dhofar and Al Wusta.
The teams, drawn from universities, colleges and sports clubs, are competing for places in the final rounds of the championship.
The qualifiers aim to enhance youth capabilities in dialogue, critical thinking and structured argumentation, while promoting constructive debate practices and strengthening analytical skills.
The competition featured three rounds, reflecting a high level of preparation among participants. The championship serves as a national platform to develop young talent in debate and equip them to engage with diverse issues through scientific and systematic discussion — aligned with the goals of Oman Vision 2040.
Hamad bin Khalfan al Harrasi, Head of the Awareness and Education Department at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, said that the Dhofar leg marks the final stop in the preliminary phase of this year’s competition. He added that the list of teams qualifying for the finals — scheduled for April 25-26 in Muscat — has now been finalised.
He noted that participation has increased compared to the previous edition, reflecting growing interest and wider engagement from institutions across Oman.
Meanwhile, Nasser bin Humaid al Hinai, CEO of the Oman Debates Centre, said the initiative began in 2016 in Al Buraimi Governorate and has since grown into one of the country’s leading platforms for debate.
He added that this year’s edition features 78 teams representing 11 governorates, with 14 teams qualifying for the finals. He also noted that 26 judges from Dhofar Governorate qualified during this stage.
The championship continues to play a key role in nurturing communication skills, encouraging intellectual engagement and preparing youth to contribute effectively to national development. - ONA
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