UAE Chess Federation, ADU sign agreement to develop game through scientific research

 The UAE Chess Federation and Abu Dhabi University signed a cooperation and partnership agreement on Tuesday aimed at developing chess through scientific research and specialised studies.

The initiative, the first of its kind, opens new avenues for exploring chess sciences and strengthening the game’s presence in academic institutions.

The agreement was announced during a press conference held at Abu Dhabi University’s campus, attended by professor Dr Ghassan Aouad, Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University; Dr Ismail Al Khoury, President of the UAE Chess Federation; Dr Ghanem Kashwani, Chairman of the federation’s Research and Studies Committee; Dr Maha Alameri, a committee member; and several university professors and sports figures.

Professor Aouad expressed his pleasure at signing the agreement with the UAE Chess Federation, emphasising the many benefits chess offers students at different stages of their education.

“We are pleased to be part of the federation’s ecosystem. This is the first agreement of its kind to focus on scientific research and the study of chess sciences. Although the university has signed numerous cooperation agreements with sports organisations and has champions across various disciplines, chess will have a special place. We will also organise chess tournaments within the university,” he said.

Dr Ismail Al Khoury thanked Abu Dhabi University for agreeing to the partnership, stressing that the next phase would focus on expanding participation in chess in various ways. He said the federation planned to engage universities in establishing a university chess league, helping identify emerging talent and encouraging students to continue playing the game.

Al Khoury explained that the UAE Chess Summit, recently held at Sharjah Cultural Chess Club, highlighted the loss of several players from the sport after completing secondary school.

He noted that launching a university league would be an important step towards retaining players while creating new opportunities to discover and develop talent.

Dr Ghanem Kashwani said the agreement aims to strengthen scientific research and studies in chess, focusing on scientific and intellectual aspects that extend beyond the chessboard, alongside organising university-level tournaments.

He said Abu Dhabi University was selected because of its advanced capabilities in scientific research. The partnership marks the beginning of efforts to sign further agreements with academic institutions, while one of the long-term objectives is to introduce chess sciences as part of elective university courses.

Maha Alameri said the agreement represents the first initiative undertaken by the UAE Chess Federation’s Research and Studies Committee, which was established to explore new avenues for developing the game through scientific research and specialised studies.

She explained that the committee is working towards several objectives, including expanding knowledge of chess sciences, using research findings to improve technical performance, strengthening cooperation with academic institutions and supporting the integration of chess sciences into educational programmes and curricula. These efforts aim to reinforce the game’s standing and shape its future through a well-researched, scientific approach.