UAE Chess Federation VP Fouad Darwish elected FIDE Vice President at Samarkand General Assembly

Fouad Darwish, who serves as vice president of the UAE Chess Federation, was elected as a vice president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The vote took place during the FIDE General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, held on the sidelines of the World Chess Olympiad.

What the election means for the UAE

UAE Chess Federation President Dr. Ismail Ibrahim Al Khoori issued a public congratulations to Darwish after the election. Al Khoori described the outcome as a milestone for chess in the UAE and said it reflected confidence in Emirati sports professionals to hold international positions and to contribute to sport development globally.

Darwish acknowledged the UAE Chess Federation's role in nominating and supporting his candidacy. He expressed hope that his new FIDE role will allow him to further support the development of chess in the UAE. The report does not include specific programmatic commitments or an outline of immediate priorities he will pursue within FIDE.

• The election is an official FIDE outcome announced at the General Assembly in Samarkand.
• The UAE's leadership framed the result as a sign of confidence in the country's sports officials on the international stage.
• Darwish publicly thanked his federation and expressed the aim of promoting UAE chess through his FIDE position.

This is an institutional advancement for an Emirati official within international chess governance. The move signals closer UAE involvement at the executive level of FIDE and creates a potential channel for UAE chess interests to be represented in international decision-making. The article does not provide further detail on votes, the broader FIDE slate, or Darwish's specific agenda items inside FIDE.

Fouad Darwish's election as a FIDE vice president is a discrete development in international chess administration that the UAE leadership has welcomed. Darwish positions the role as an opportunity to assist UAE chess development, while the federation highlights the election as evidence of Emirati competence and recognition on the world stage.