In a bid to encourage chess players in the Middle East and provide a platform at the global stage, the organisers of Norway Chess – one of the most prestigious tournaments in the FIDE chess calendar – has invited Emirate’s first-ever female grandmaster Rouda Essa Alserkal to participate in the Norway Chess Open 2025 which will see participation from 31 countries.

The 15-year-old Rouda was formally presented with the invitation by Kjell Madland, Managing Director and visionary behind Norway Chess, today at a press event in Seven Seas Hotel in Dubai. Also present at the grand occasion was Dr Mansoor Al Tamimi, Vice Technical Committee Chair, the Technical Director from the Abu Dhabi Chess Club and Mind Games. Koneru Humpy, two-time women’s world rapid chess champion, also joined virtually and wished Rouda ahead of her upcoming events.

Kjell Madland, Managing Director of Norway Chess, presents the official invitation to participate in the Norway Chess Open 2025 to Rouda Al Serkal, the UAE’s first Woman Grandmaster, as Benedicte Westre Skog, COO of Norway Chess, looks on during the official press conference held at the Seven Seas Hotel in Dubai on Wednesday. Photo Credit: Joy Dasgupta/Norway chess

The Norway Chess Open 2025 will be held from May 26 to June 1 at the IMI Forum in Stavanger, attracting both grandmasters and ambitious chess players seeking title norms and valuable competitive experience. With previous participants like reigning World Champion Gukesh D, Praggnanandhaa, and Vaishali, who participated in the Norway Chess Open as budding players before their meteoric rise in the sport, has established itself as an essential arena for players seeking high-level competition.

Speaking about providing this unique opportunity for Rouda, Kjell Madland expressed, “Norway Chess is delighted to invite Rouda Essa Alserkal to participate in this year’s Norway Chess Open 2025. I congratulate Rouda on the remarkable feat to become the first woman Chess Grandmaster from the UAE and she stands tall as an inspiration for women in this region to achieve. The Norway Chess Open provides a great opportunity for Grandmasters and chess players to hone their skills and gain competitive exposure. We hope to find and encourage many future chess stars from the Middle East to play in the Norway Chess Open.”

Madland further highlighted the importance of growing chess as a competitive sport in the Middle East and expressed interest in creating further synergies with potential partners in the UAE. “We are exploring the possibility of hosting Norway Chess tournament in the Middle East and potential partners are welcome to connect with us. We are also working to broadcast Norway Chess live to the fans in the Middle East,” he said.

In the Norway Chess Open category, leading the list of participants is Rinat Jumbayev (KAZ), followed by strong contenders such as Gergely Kantor (HUN), Valentin Dragnev (AUT), Vitaly Kunin (GER), Norwegian Frode Urkedal (NOR), and Chinese grandmaster Jiner Zhu (CHN).

Expressing her excitement to participate in the Norway Chess Open 2025, Rouda said, “I am looking forward to the competition as I know Norway Chess is the strongest grooming ground for future chess superstars. When I first heard that I am getting invited for the Norway Chess Open, I could not believe it and I was so thrilled, I told my coach immediately – that I need to start preparing. This is the most prestigious tournament in the world and I am sure this experience will help me improve my game further.”

“I am also greatly looking forward to meet Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura, also some of the Indian players like the new World Champion Gukesh who will be participating in the Norway Chess 2025,” she added.  

The Norway Chess Open features double rounds on Thursday, May 29, and Friday, May 30, providing excellent opportunities for title norms in the top group. In the Grandmaster Group, which Rouda has been invited to participate, will have nine rounds, opportunity for title norms and a prize fund of €13,000.

Please see attached images from the event.

About Norway Chess 2025:

The Norway Chess Open is held simultaneously along with the marquee Norway Chess 2025 which will see a star-studded line-up featuring world no.1 Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Gukesh D (India), Fabiano Caruana (USA), Arjun Erigaisi (India), and Wei Yi (China) among the men while the Norway Chess Women will feature  Ju Wenjun (China), Lei Tingjie (China), Humpy Koneru (India), Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine), Vaishali Rameshbabu (India), and Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (Spain).

Norway Chess and Norway Chess Women, feature the same format, same prize money, and take place in the same playing hall. Both tournaments follow a 6-player double round-robin format.

Etihad Airways is expanding its footprint in Pakistan with a new route to Peshawar, aligning with the UAE’s introduction of a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa for Pakistani nationals, a move expected to boost travel and tourism ties between the two countries.

Starting September 29, 2025, Etihad will launch direct flights between Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar, making it the airline’s fourth non-stop route to Pakistan, after Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore.

The UAE’s five-year visa, recently announced by Ambassador Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al Zaabi, is seen as a significant step in facilitating easier travel for Pakistani tourists and families, especially with expanded flight options now in place.

Etihad will operate the Peshawar service with its Airbus A320 family aircraft, offering eight Business Class and 150 Economy seats. The route will begin with five weekly flights and increase to daily service from November 22, 2025.

“We are thrilled to further expand our presence in Pakistan with the launch of our daily service between Abu Dhabi and Peshawar. This new route reflects our commitment to providing vital connectivity for travellers between Pakistan and the Gulf, Africa, Europe, and North America,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways.

Etihad is also ramping up operations to Karachi, increasing frequency to 17 flights a week starting October 1. The Peshawar launch follows the addition of Addis Ababa to the network and marks Etihad’s 16th new destination in 2025, alongside new routes to Prague, Warsaw, Algiers, Tunis, and Atlanta.

The carrier is also increasing frequencies to major European hubs including Paris, Milan, Manchester, Frankfurt, Zurich, and Madrid.

Dubai has cemented its position as one of the world’s most dynamic wealth capitals, registering a remarkable 102% growth in resident millionaires over the past decade, according to the 2025 edition of the World’s Wealthiest Cities Report by Henley & Partners and New World Wealth.

The emirate has jumped three spots to 18th place in the global Top 50 ranking, making it the biggest climber in the latest report, a testament to its growing appeal among high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and global investors.

Dubai is now home to 81,200 millionaires, including 237 centi-millionaires, individuals with investable wealth of over $100 million, and 20 billionaires. This growth places the city ahead of global heavyweights such as Seoul and Geneva and in league with emerging Asian powerhouses like Shenzhen and Hangzhou, which also recorded triple-digit millionaire growth rates.

The report highlights Dubai’s rapid transformation into a global wealth magnet, driven by strategic economic reforms, a pro-business environment, and the absence of income and capital gains taxes. Its status as a lifestyle and investment destination has attracted entrepreneurs, investors, and family offices from Europe, Asia, and, increasingly, the United States.

“Dubai’s meteoric rise is no accident,” said the report’s authors. “It reflects long-term planning, investor-friendly policies, and a concerted effort to position the city as a nexus for global capital.”

Abu Dhabi also features prominently in the report, with 75 resident centi-millionaires and an 80% growth in its millionaire population over the past decade. Together, the UAE’s two leading cities are forecast to see their centi-millionaire populations more than double over the next ten years, reinforcing the country’s growing clout in global wealth circles.

While the United States continues to dominate the list, with New York topping the rankings and the Bay Area in second place, Dubai stands out as the top non-Western performer, ahead of cities like Paris, Toronto, and Melbourne.

The report further signals a global shift, with wealth increasingly concentrated in tech-driven cities and emerging markets. Alongside Dubai, cities like Bengaluru, West Palm Beach, and Scottsdale are also experiencing explosive growth, underscoring a broader decentralisation of wealth.

As the UAE continues to diversify its economy, expand its financial services sector, and attract talent through Golden Visas and business-friendly reforms, Dubai’s status as a global wealth hub appears only set to strengthen.

(Source: www.henleyglobal.com)