فؤاد درويش elected FIDE vice-president

By James Mercer • 28 September 2026, 02:17 • 2 mins read

فؤاد درويش was elected a vice-president of the International Chess Federation at its assembly in Samarkand. The result puts a UAE Chess Federation official among FIDE's leaders.

Delegates met in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 26 and 27 September 2026, alongside the World Chess Olympiad. They elected فؤاد درويش, vice-president of the UAE Chess Federation, to a vice-president post at FIDE.

The official FIDE Congress agenda lists four vice-president positions for delegates to elect. The newly elected president can appoint three more.

Pavel Kolobkov was also elected a FIDE vice-president, receiving 78 votes, according to the Russian Chess Federation.

Russian Chess Federation

A leadership role with UAE significance

Reports on the vote confirmed that درويش was elected among the FIDE vice-presidents. Candidates were chosen in the first and second rounds. WAM said the result brings UAE representation to FIDE's international leadership and identified درويش as vice-president of the UAE Chess Federation.

The UAE now has a representative in a senior international chess role. The appointment also gives the UAE Chess Federation's work an international dimension. Its domestic participation initiatives include the school chess programme.

Dr Ismail Ibrahim Al Khouri, president of the UAE Chess Federation, congratulated درويش. He said the appointment was an addition to Emirati chess and reflected international confidence in national talent.

At the same assembly, Timur Turlov was elected FIDE president in the second round, while Viswanathan Anand became deputy president in the new leadership team.

Chess.com

Federation support behind the candidacy

درويش thanked the UAE Chess Federation and its president for nominating him and supporting his candidacy. The source does not give further details about his responsibilities or the length of his term.

The result gives the UAE Chess Federation one of its leaders in an international vice-presidency. Emirati chess now has a formal seat in the sport's global governance. The role is his.

Topics: Chess Federations & Governance #Federations & Organisations #UAE Chess Federation

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James Mercer

James Mercer is the Co-Founder, Owner, Publisher and Managing Director of UAE CUE Sports, where he shapes the publication's editorial direction and long-term development. His work focuses on UAE sport, major events, sports media, venues and the business behind the country's sporting ecosystem, with an emphasis on verified information, practical context and editorial independence.