UAE Chess Summit charts roadmap for development ahead of 2028 Olympiad

 Sharjah Cultural Chess Club hosted the UAE Chess Summit 2026 under the theme ‘Road to Abu Dhabi Chess Olympiad 2028’, bringing together leaders of chess clubs across the country, alongside leading specialists and experts.

The summit aimed to unify visions, strengthen cooperation between the UAE Chess Federation and clubs, and develop practical strategies to advance the sport and maximise the benefits of hosting the upcoming Olympiad.

The summit was attended by Dr Ismail Al Khoury, President of the UAE Chess Federation; Taryam Matar Taryam, Chairman of Sharjah Cultural Chess Club; Ahmed Al Nuaimi, a federation board member and chairman of the competitions committee; Saeed Al Khoury, a federation board member and chairman of the Arbiters Committee; and Abdullah Murad Al Mazmi, a board member of Sharjah Cultural Chess Club, who moderated the session. Representatives of clubs, coaches and administrators also attended.

Discussions focused on the key challenges facing UAE chess and ways to improve its technical and administrative aspects, raise the standards of arbiters and coaches, and strengthen talent identification and player development programmes.

These efforts aim to help UAE chess return to the podium at continental and international competitions while preparing players to earn international titles.

The summit concluded with several recommendations, foremost among them the establishment of a schools chess league to broaden participation and identify promising talent. Other recommendations included strengthening coordination between the Federation and clubs to achieve shared objectives and providing members of the chess community with opportunities to submit proposals and ideas to support the sport’s development and raise its standards to international levels.

Dr Ismail Al Khoury said the summit was an important initiative to strengthen cooperation between the Federation and clubs. He praised the efforts of Taryam Matar Taryam and Sharjah Cultural Chess Club in organising the event, stressing that protecting the interests of the sport, improving players’ standards and reaching international podiums were shared goals.

He added that the summit focused on technical matters, the challenges facing the sport and practical, positive solutions for the coming period. He noted that the Abu Dhabi Chess Olympiad 2028 would be a major international event requiring early and comprehensive preparation across all levels.

He also highlighted the importance of leveraging the event to increase the UAE’s chances of hosting other major international tournaments in the future.

Meanwhile, Taryam Matar Taryam said the summit aimed to address issues relating to players and their development, expand participation and identify emerging talent. He emphasised the importance of school chess as a key pathway to building a strong pool of players capable of competing at the highest level and achieving success.

He noted that the Hamda Bint Taryam Schools Chess Championship attracted more than 8,000 students from public and private schools across the UAE, including some participants aged over 17. This, he said, reflected the growing interest in chess and the opportunities available to develop the sport further.

He expressed hope that such initiatives would contribute to the development of UAE chess and strengthen its presence on the international stage.