Opening Ceremony
On 30 October 2025, a solemn opening ceremony was held to mark the inauguration of the WFCC office in the magnificent new home of the Fujairah Chess & Culture Club (FCCC). The office, located within the splendid three-storey chess palace, was officially opened by H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah.
On 3 November, a reception for WFCC members took place in the palace of His Highness, who showed remarkable interest in the discussion about Arabic chess manuscripts and the oldest known chess problems — mansubas.
WFCC President Marjan Kovačević expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Crown Prince for his generous and continuous support to the Federation — both on an annual basis and through the WFCC Grand Prix cycles — and presented him with the latest edition of the FIDE Album.
Meanwhile, on 1 November, WFCC Secretary Mohammad Alhallak, together with WFCC Vice-President and FCCC Chairman Abdulla Ali Aal Barket, hosted the WFCC online meeting, which was broadcast directly from the new Fujairah Chess Club premises.
The initiative to create this luxurious chess palace, capable of hosting several hundred chess players, originated from the Al Sharqi royal family in 2016. Already by 2017, the FCCC organized its first solving tournament, and in 2019, proudly represented the United Arab Emirates as a new member of the WFCC. Looking ahead, at the end of 2026, this beautifully adorned palace will host the final competition of the 1st WFCC Fujairah Solving Grand Prix 2025–2026, promising another milestone in the flourishing partnership between the WFCC and the Emirate of Fujairah.