Page 89 - MOS PR REPORT - JULY 2025

7/22/25, 11:08 AM Ministry of Sports applauds UAE Chess Federation’s pioneering initiative to include resident members in Board of Directors
This marks a qualitative shift in the way in which sports federation boards are formed, reinforcing the
principle of involving all segments of society in the decision-making process, aligning with the vision of
the UAE’s wise leadership. It also lays the foundation for a new model that responds to the precise
needs of the current development phase in the national sports sector.

The Ministry of Sports affirmed that the UAE Chess Federation's experience constitutes a historic
milestone in the nation’s sports governance development journey. The new system will be adopted as a
pilot model within a well-studied, integrated approach aimed at assessing the institutional and technical
impact of this initiative on the federation’s performance and its ability to achieve its goals. This includes

evaluating decision-making efficiency, diversity of expertise, speed of initiative implementation, as well
as internal governance effectiveness.

Based on the outcomes of this experience, a comprehensive analysis will be conducted to help shape
future policies for the development of board formation mechanisms across other federations. The
approach may be gradually generalised depending on the extent to which the intended objectives are

achieved, in alignment with the principles of professionalism, sustainability, and inclusivity within the
sports sector.

The Ministry considers the inclusion of resident members in the boards of sports federations as a
practical embodiment of the values of openness, tolerance, and diversity. This inclusion enhances the

contribution of the residents to sports development by harnessing their expertise and talents, further
reinforcing the role of sports as a national tool for development, social integration, and empowerment.

This experience also highlights the need to integrate elite talents into sports leadership, particularly in
specialised areas such as sports marketing, strategic planning, technical analysis, and the adoption of
modern technologies. The Ministry believes that involving members with advanced expertise serves as

an institutional enabler for achieving performance excellence. This step aligns with the Ministry’s vision
to develop the administrative structure of sports federations and instate qualified professionals capable
of transforming these entities into pioneering institutions characterised by responsible decision-making,

agility, and innovation.

This initiative highlights the Ministry’s efforts to instil a robust governance culture as the guiding
framework for all institutional processes within the sports sector. Moreover, the adoption of the electoral
list system is considered a significant organisational advancement, reinforcing the commitment of sports
bodies to the principles of integrity, transparency, specialisation, and administrative integration.

The Ministry views governance not merely as a regulatory tool, but as a comprehensive approach that

supports the development of stronger partnerships with all sports institutions. It helps foster a
collaborative working environment and contributes to empowering these entities by enhancing their
ability to identify talent, increase the number of active sports participants, and improve overall sports

performance efficiency.

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