Abu Dhabi receives flag to host 2028 FIDE Chess Olympiad

Abu Dhabi has received the flag to host the next edition of the FIDE Chess Olympiad, scheduled to take place in 2028, during the official flag handover ceremony held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, which hosted the 46th edition of the global event.

The handover of the flag marks the official transition of the Olympiad to Abu Dhabi, which is preparing to host the 47th FIDE Chess Olympiad, alongside the 4th FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities and the 98th FIDE Congress, bringing together the international chess community in the UAE capital.

Abu Dhabi’s hosting of the event holds particular significance, with the Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities set to take place alongside the main Olympiad, continuing the model introduced in Samarkand in 2026, when the two events were held for the first time in the same host city and during the same period.

The flag was received by Hussein Abdullah Al Khouri, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Abu Dhabi Chess and Mind Games Club and Director of the Abu Dhabi 2028 FIDE Chess Olympiad, and Abdulrahim Al Zarooni, Director of the Corporate Communications Office at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, in the presence of Dr. Ismail Ibrahim Yousuf Al Khouri, President of the UAE Chess Federation; Suhail Al Awadhi, Board Member of the Abu Dhabi Chess and Mind Games Club; and Abd Al Hammadi, Head of the UAE delegation participating in the Olympiad.

His Excellency Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the Abu Dhabi 2028 FIDE Chess Olympiad, said that receiving the Olympiad flag represents an important milestone in preparations to host the event.

“We are proud to receive the flag of the FIDE Chess Olympiad and look forward to welcoming the global chess community to Abu Dhabi and delivering an exceptional edition that reflects the UAE capital’s standing and extensive experience in hosting and organising major international sporting events,” Al Awani said.

He added: “Hosting three major FIDE events in Abu Dhabi — the FIDE Chess Olympiad, the Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities, and the FIDE Congress — represents both a significant responsibility and an important opportunity to deliver an integrated experience worthy of Abu Dhabi’s position on the international sporting stage. It also reflects the emirate’s commitment to supporting sport and promoting the values of diversity, inclusion and connection among people from around the world.”

The Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the International Chess Federation (FIDE) previously signed an agreement to host and organise the 47th FIDE Chess Olympiad, the 4th Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities, and the 98th FIDE Congress, following Abu Dhabi’s successful bid in December 2023. The UAE capital’s bid received 96 votes, compared with 60 votes for the Italian city of Genoa.

The 2028 edition will mark the second time the United Arab Emirates has hosted the FIDE Chess Olympiad, following Dubai’s hosting of the 27th edition in 1986, reflecting the country’s longstanding chess heritage and its growing position on the global chess landscape.

Abu Dhabi continues its preparations to host the event in cooperation with FIDE and relevant stakeholders, drawing on its extensive organisational expertise and advanced infrastructure to deliver a world-class edition bringing together leading chess players and national teams from around the world.