The UAE is on the brink of welcoming its youngest-ever chess Grandmasters as students as young as 11 dominate competitive chess, aiming to achieve the prestigious grandmaster title.
“I started playing with my family at home. What began as a fun game turned into something much bigger when I realized I could compete and win for the UAE,” shared 12-year-old Alia Fahed AlHarazi with Khaleej Times.
Four promising talents—Alia, 12-year-old UAE Under-14 Champion Mariam Khalifa AlQubaisi, and 11-year-old medalists Abdulla AlBusaeedi and Khalid Sharif AlAlawi—are honing their skills under the guidance of the Abu Dhabi Chess Club & Mind Games.
Balancing school commitments, these students train two to three times a week, consistently improving their ratings and securing regular tournament victories.
They excel both on the chessboard and in their academic pursuits.
“My mom introduced me to chess as a post-school hobby, but it evolved into a daily routine and my main goal. I became UAE champion and now strive to become a grandmaster,” Mariam expressed to Khaleej Times.
Currently, these young Emiratis are competing at an international chess festival in Abu Dhabi, gaining invaluable experience to realize their aspirations.
The 31st Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival, which runs until August 24, attracts 3,000 players from 82 countries with a Dh500,000 prize pool, making it one of the largest chess festivals globally.
Their goals are rooted in the UAE’s rich chess history. The country’s chess journey began in 1976, with Taleb Moussa becoming its first Grandmaster in 2004, followed by Salem Saleh, who achieved a peak rating of 2690, placing him among the top 50 chess players globally.
“I aspire to be like Salem Saleh, who is a grandmaster and competes in master tournaments. With dedication, I hope to follow in his footsteps,” Abdulla AlBusaeedi told Khaleej Times.
For these young players, chess influences their lives beyond tournaments. “I now think things through before acting, thanks to chess. It helps me in school too,” Khalid AlAlawi shared with Khaleej Times.
Their local chess club plays a crucial role in their development, offering training and encouraging international competition. “The chess club feels like a second home; it’s where I find friends and have fun,” said Alalawi.
Their current focus is the ongoing festival, where they challenge international competitors. “I want to test myself against stronger players and gain experience. Winning would be incredible, and I’m confident I can beat one of these rated players in the upcoming rounds,” stated Alia.
Alia’s dream is to become the second Emirati woman grandmaster and inspire more UAE girls to pursue chess.
Earlier this year, 15-year-old Rouda Essa Alserkal became the first Emirati and Gulf player to earn the Woman Grandmaster title.
Rouda’s accomplishment has inspired all young Emirati chess players currently competing at the Abu Dhabi Chess Festival.
