Chess in the UAE is about to get a big push. The UAE Chess Federation and Palms Sports have signed a long-term deal to change how chess is played, taught, and enjoyed across the country. The signing took place at International Holding Company headquarters in Abu Dhabi. Both sides want to make chess a bigger part of school and community life.
The main goal is to run tournaments and events that reach far beyond the usual chess crowd. Palms Sports will now manage school chess championships in Abu Dhabi. More than 400 public and private schools are expected to take part. This could bring chess to more students than ever before and make it a regular part of school life.
In 2026, Palms Sports renewed its partnership with the Ministry of Education to run a nationwide school jiu-jitsu program, covering 150,000 students across 279 schools with nearly 500 coaches and AED 600.5 million in funding.
Dr Ismail Ibrahim Yousuf Al Khouri, president of the UAE Chess Federation, called the agreement a key step in reaching the federation's 2026 goals. He said this is the fifth partnership with government and private groups, all aimed at speeding up sports growth. Al Khouri said the deal will help chess players, the wider community, and school students. Palms Sports will follow the federation's strategy and best practices.
Palms Sports CEO Fouad Darwish described the agreement as a clear plan for the company's sports goals. He praised the federation's work to make chess more popular and to build its role in culture and sport. Darwish also pointed out that Palms Sports will now run school tournaments in Abu Dhabi, bringing in more students and schools than ever before. This will help make chess a bigger part of youth sports.
According to UAE Cue Sports, as of September 2026, the UAE Chess Federation was simultaneously advancing its international agenda-announcing national team rosters for the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand and participating in major regional events-while also scaling up school and grassroots chess initiatives. This dual focus reflects a broader national strategy to integrate chess into both elite competition and everyday educational life.
This deal follows other big moves in UAE sports, like the recent sponsorship renewal between Shabab Al Ahli and Mai Dubai. These partnerships show how federations and private companies are working together to get more people involved and raise the level of sport.
By focusing on both top-level and grassroots chess, the UAE Chess Federation and Palms Sports are opening up the game to more people. They want chess to be part of education and community life, not just a competitive sport. If they deliver on these plans, the UAE could become a leader in school and community chess in the region. The real challenge will be turning this plan into steady, real growth for the sport and its young players.
