Dubai to Host First Global School Esports Championship in 2027
Dubai announces 'EGAMES DUBAI27', the inaugural international school esports event featuring EA SPORTS FC 27, Rocket League, and Minecraft.
Dubai has launched registration for 'EGAMES DUBAI27', the world's first international esports championship exclusively for school students, set to take place in April 2027. The event will welcome participants from government, state-funded, and private schools worldwide.
The championship will feature three competitive games: EA SPORTS FC 27, Rocket League, and a Minecraft build tournament. Students enrolled during the 2026/27 academic year are eligible to compete, starting with national qualifiers organized by their respective countries' esports federations. Successful teams will advance to the live finals hosted at the GEMS School of Research & Innovation (SRI) in Dubai.
Co-created by the Varkey Group and the British Esports Federation, the initiative has garnered support from 14 national esports federations, including the Emirates Esports Federation, with more expected to join. The competition aims not only to highlight gaming skills but also to foster teamwork, communication, resilience, and digital literacy among young participants, while exposing them to potential career paths in gaming and technology sectors.
Winning teams will be awarded medals, scholarships, experiences at the Esports Nations Cup, and new hardware to enhance their schools' facilities. Sunny Varkey, Chairman and Founder of Varkey Group and Gems Education, emphasized the goal of connecting youth globally and helping them understand how esports skills can translate into broader opportunities. He stated, "Our aim is to bring young people from around the world together, giving them the opportunity to learn, connect, create, compete and lead." He added that nurturing students' potential and recognizing their achievements on an international platform is a key objective.
Gems Education has joined as an education partner, and various organizations from education and technology sectors have been invited to support the championship. Chester King, President of the British Esports Federation and Gems Esports Ambassador, noted the federation's ongoing efforts since 2016 to establish esports as a competitive and educational avenue for students. He highlighted the federation's existing Student Champs series, which involves over 600 school teams and attracts substantial viewership for its live finals. King remarked that partnering with Varkey Group to launch EGAMES was a natural progression to foster global competition among countries.
Dubai's role as host aligns with its expanding focus on gaming and esports, supported by initiatives like the Dubai Programme for Gaming 2033, launched by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Additional efforts include the Dubai Esports and Games Festival's youth programs, the Dubai Gaming Committee, and the inclusion of esports in the Dubai Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033.
Alongside the championship, an education summit will be held in Dubai targeting teachers, partners, and stakeholders. Topics will cover esports education, digital skills, artificial intelligence, safeguarding, coaching, and future career skills.
The Commonwealth Youth Programme has also recognized esports as a means to engage youth, enhance employability, and develop digital skills. Layne Robinson, former Head of Social Policy at the Commonwealth Secretariat, highlighted esports as an opportunity for youth participation and skill development beyond entertainment. He noted that Commonwealth Youth Ministers have acknowledged esports' potential to foster innovation and youth engagement.
Schools, national federations, and education partners interested in participating or supporting EGAMES DUBAI27 can access more information at www.egames.gg. The 14 national federations currently committed include those from the UAE, UK, Argentina, Brazil, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Ireland, Jordan, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Turkey.