Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the 31st Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival will take place from 15-24 August 2025.
Organised by the Abu Dhabi Chess & Mind Games Club under supervision of the Abu Dhabi Sport Council, the event will be held at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort, Abu Dhabi Corniche, with total prizes amounting to AED500,000.
This year’s festival will have the largest number of participants in its history, with more than 3,000 players representing 82 countries – an increase of more than 500 participants compared to the previous edition – placing it among the world’s leading chess festivals, surpassing many prestigious international tournaments.
The festival will feature 27 tournaments covering various age groups and skill levels, led by the Masters Tournament, along with three new mind sports competitions; checkers, dominoes, and Chess960 (Fischer Random Chess) – a step that reflects the diversity and appeal of the activities to a broader audience of mind games enthusiasts.
Hussein Abdullah Al Khouri, Chairman of the Organising Committee, emphasised that the festival has become one of the most important events on the global chess calendar, attracting top-tier players from around the world. He stressed that this sustained success over more than three decades reflects the wise vision and continuous support of the UAE leadership.
Al Khouri said: “We are proud that the Abu Dhabi festival is a global platform that brings together chess champions from all continents, and we see it as an opportunity to enhance the UAE’s reputation as a leading hub for sports and cultural events.”
He also praised the support of Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the sponsorship of strategic partners, led by e& Group, Nirvana Holding, the Italian International School, Mohammed Rasool Khoory & Sons, Radisson Blu Hotel, and St. Regis Hotel, valuing their contributions to the success of the event.
His Excellency Aref Hamad Al Awani, Secretary General of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, highlighted that the continuous organisation of the Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival for over three decades reaffirms its status as one of the world’s most prominent chess and mind sports events.
His Excellency said: “The strong turnout of elite international players and participants from all over the world reflects the trust and prestige the festival enjoys, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s role as a key destination on the global sports map. This success is the result of the unlimited support of our wise leadership and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which have enabled the festival to grow into an exceptional platform for discovering talent, honing the skills of local players, and promoting cultural and sporting exchange among nations.
“I am also pleased to take this opportunity to commend the great efforts of the Abu Dhabi Chess & Mind Games Club in developing the game of chess through a range of plans, programmes, courses, and hosting initiatives which have fulfilled the club’s founding mission.
“At the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, we reaffirm our support for this major annual event on Abu Dhabi’s sports calendar. We are proud of its global significance and its appeal to international players from across the globe, and we wish everyone success.”
Faisal Ahmed Al Shihi, Festival Director, confirmed that the 31st edition of the Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival continues to shine by achieving record participation numbers, with more than 3,000 players from 82 countries already confirmed. The fact that the festival has been running for 31 consecutive years is a clear testament to its success and distinction as one of the world’s top chess events.
Chess fans can look forward to the participation of the UAE’s top players, led by Imran Al Hosani – West Asia Youth Champion, Arab Youth Champion, and UAE Men’s Champion –and Roza Issa Al Serkal, alongside an elite lineup of world champions in various age categories, headed by Masters Tournament top seed Sanan Sjugirov and second seed Arkadij Naiditsch. Also representing the UAE in different age categories are national champion Ammar Al Sderani, Arab Girls Champion Ahlam Rashid, Abdulrahman Al Taher, and Hamad Al Kaaf.
All matches will be broadcast live on the websites of the International, Asian, and Arab Chess Federations, allowing fans worldwide to follow the action moment by moment.
The panel of international arbiters is chaired by Saeed Ahmed Al Khouri, with the participation of arbiters from the UAE, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Romania, and the Philippines.
The festival also serves as a cultural and tourism showcase for Abu Dhabi, offering participating delegations the opportunity to explore the UAE capital’s landmarks and cultural heritage through accompanying tourism programmes, further enhancing its status as a global destination for both sport and tourism.
