Dubai Chess & Culture Club Professional Chess Club
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Khaled Al Falasi: “Investing in talent and developing champions are central to our strategic priorities”
Dubai Chess & Culture Club has appointed Egyptian Grandmaster and former World Junior Champion Ahmed Adly as its head coach, marking a significant step in the club’s plans to strengthen its coaching programme and develop a new generation of champions.
The appointment was approved by the club’s Board of Directors, chaired by Khaled Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi. Adly will lead the Dubai Chess Academy and oversee coaching and talent development, with a mandate to raise playing standards and strengthen the club’s standing on the domestic and international stages.
The move follows a strategic decision taken by the board in early summer 2026 to restructure the club’s coaching framework, recruit specialist coaches for junior and youth development, and modernise its training programmes and curricula. These measures support the club’s ambitions to identify promising players, develop their abilities and prepare them for major competitions.
Adly has already begun reshaping the coaching team and selecting coaching staff, alongside upgrading training programmes at the club and academy. He is also establishing dedicated development pathways for talented players, built around modern, evidence-based coaching methods and tailored to different age groups and playing strengths.
Ahmed Adly: World-Class Achievements and Talent Development Expertise
Adly is one of the leading figures in Arab and African chess. He made history in Armenia in 2007 by winning the World Junior Under-20 Championship, becoming the first Arab and African player to claim the title.
Awarded the Grandmaster title in 2005, he has also won the African Individual Championship on several occasions and competed with distinction in numerous international tournaments.
Alongside his achievements as a player, Adly brings extensive experience in coaching, talent development and academy management. He also holds FIDE’s Senior Trainer title.
His appointment adds considerable expertise to Dubai Chess Academy and supports the club’s plans to establish a comprehensive system for developing future champions and internationally titled players.
Academies Chess Challenge to Launch New Competitive Chapter
As an early initiative under the club’s development programme, Dubai Chess Academy is preparing to stage the inaugural Academies Chess Challenge, running from 30 October to 7 November 2026, with players representing chess academies from across the UAE.
The tournament is open to boys and girls under the age of 18 with FIDE ratings below 2000. Organisers are targeting a field of 120 players, including 15 from Dubai Chess Academy’s talent development programme, alongside representatives from around 13 registered chess academies in Dubai and other academies across the country.
The event aims to provide a stimulating competitive environment in which young players can gain tournament experience and improve their playing standards. It will also strengthen cooperation between the UAE’s chess academies and encourage wider participation in the sport, supporting the development of Emirati chess and preparing a new generation for international competition.
Al Falasi: Academies Are Essential to Discovering Talent and Developing Champions
Khaled Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Chairman of Dubai Chess & Culture Club, said developing Dubai Chess Academy is a central pillar of the club’s strategy, with investment in promising talent and the next generation of champions among the board’s foremost priorities.
“We believe that developing champions begins with identifying talent at an early age and providing the right coaching environment to refine their abilities and develop their skills,” Al Falasi said.
“That is why the board has prioritised building a comprehensive coaching system founded on modern, evidence-based methods and led by experts and coaches with proven ability and international experience.”
He added: “The appointment of Grandmaster Ahmed Adly to lead our coaching team and Dubai Chess Academy reflects our commitment to drawing on outstanding international expertise and sharing that knowledge and experience with our players and coaches.
“This will help strengthen our coaching programmes, raise playing standards and achieve the club’s goal of developing champions capable of competing internationally and winning titles.”
Al Falasi described Dubai Chess Academy as the club’s principal pathway for identifying and developing talented players, and its coaching hub for producing future champions and internationally titled players.
He stressed that the board’s ambitions extend beyond immediate results to building a sustainable coaching system that delivers lasting success and keeps the club at the forefront of domestic and international competition.
The chairman also praised the club’s staff and coaching team for their work in implementing the development plans. He said the next phase would place greater emphasis on talent identification and development, expanding participation, and strengthening partnerships with chess academies, educational institutions and sports organisations.
The launch of the Academies Chess Challenge, he added, is a practical step towards delivering that vision. By bringing together emerging players from across the UAE, the tournament will provide a competitive platform to develop their abilities and prepare them for future challenges.
Al Falasi concluded by reaffirming Dubai Chess & Culture Club’s commitment to its strategic vision: establishing the club as a leading centre for developing champions, promoting chess throughout the community, and strengthening Dubai’s position as a destination for talent and for regional and international chess tournaments.
