Abu Dhabi receives flag to host 2028 FIDE Chess Olympiad
In short
Abu Dhabi received the flag to host the 2028 FIDE Chess Olympiad at a handover ceremony in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, which hosted the 46th edition in 2026. The UAE capital will stage the 47th Olympiad along with the 4th FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities and the 98th FIDE Congress. The flag was received by Hussein Abdullah Al Khouri, director of the Abu Dhabi 2028 event, and Abdulrahim Al Zarooni of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
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Abu Dhabi has received the flag to host the 2028 FIDE Chess Olympiad, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said, at an official handover ceremony held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, which hosted the 46th edition of the event. The handover marks the transition of the Olympiad to the UAE capital, which is preparing to stage the 47th edition along with the 4th FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities and the 98th FIDE Congress. [ 1 , 2 ]
The documents state that holding the Olympiad for People with Disabilities alongside the main event continues the model introduced in Samarkand in 2026, when the two events were held in the same host city and during the same period for the first time. [ 1 , 2 ]
The flag was received by Hussein Abdullah Al Khouri, chairman of the board 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. The documents list as present Dr. Ismail Ibrahim Yousuf Al Khouri, president of the UAE Chess Federation; Suhail Al Awadhi, a board member of the Abu Dhabi Chess and Mind Games Club; and Abd Al Hammadi, head of the UAE delegation at the Olympiad. [ 1 , 2 ]
Aref Hamad Al Awani, general secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and chairman of the local organising committee for the 2028 event, said receiving the flag represents an important milestone in preparations. He said: “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.” [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The handover formally moves the Olympiad's next edition to Abu Dhabi and continues the model introduced in Samarkand of holding the main Olympiad and the Olympiad for People with Disabilities in the same host city at the same time. Local organisers describe the flag handover as a milestone in preparations. The documents do not give further details on venues, dates or costs.
Key facts
- Abu Dhabi received the flag to host the FIDE Chess Olympiad in 2028 at a handover ceremony in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Samarkand hosted the 46th edition of the Olympiad. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Abu Dhabi is preparing to host the 47th FIDE Chess Olympiad. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The 4th FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities and the 98th FIDE Congress will be held alongside it in Abu Dhabi. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The two Olympiads were held in the same host city in the same period for the first time in Samarkand in 2026. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The flag was received by Hussein Abdullah Al Khouri, chairman 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. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Aref Hamad Al Awani, general secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and chairman of the local organising committee, said receiving the flag is an important milestone in preparations. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Abu Dhabi is to host the 2028 FIDE Chess Olympiad, alongside the 4th FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities and the 98th FIDE Congress. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The flag handover took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, host of the 46th edition. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Hussein Abdullah Al Khouri and Abdulrahim Al Zarooni received the flag. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- Venues, dates within 2028, participating nations and the cost of hosting are not stated. Neither document gives these details.
- The exact date and time of the flag handover ceremony is not given. Both documents say only that it was held in Samarkand.