EGAMES DUBAI27: Dubai Opens Registration for World’s First School Esports Championship

Dubai is preparing to host the inaugural EGAMES DUBAI27 finals in April 2027, bringing student competitors from around the world together for three esports tournaments at GEMS School of Research & Innovation.

Dubai has opened registration for EGAMES DUBAI27, an international school esports championship that will invite students from different countries to compete for the title of EGAMES World Champion. The inaugural live finals are scheduled to take place in Dubai in April 2027.

The competition is being presented as the world's first international esports championship open to students from all types of schools, including government-run, state-funded and private institutions. It will give young players an opportunity to represent their schools and countries on an international stage.

The initiative has been co-created by Varkey Group and the British Esports Federation, with support from national esports federations and education institutions. Fourteen national esports federations have already committed to participating, including the Emirates Esports Federation.

When and where will the championship take place?

The first live finals of EGAMES DUBAI27 will be held at GEMS School of Research & Innovation (SRI) in Dubai in April 2027.

Students will first need to qualify through national tournaments organised by their respective country's esports federation. Successful competitors will then progress towards the international finals in Dubai.

Students enrolled during the 2026/27 academic year are eligible to participate, according to the announcement. The initiative is intended to bring together school communities across national borders through organised competition.

Schools and national federations interested in taking part can find further information through the official website: www.egames.gg.

Three competitions will feature at EGAMES DUBAI27

The live championship will include three competitions, covering football gaming, team-based action and creative building.

The selection gives students different ways to participate, from competitive gaming that requires coordination and tactical decisions to a building tournament that places emphasis on creativity.

The organisers have not provided a detailed breakdown of individual age groups, team sizes or qualification dates in the announcement. Schools and students should therefore check the official competition website for further participation information as it becomes available.

What will the winning students receive?

The championship will offer more than medals to successful teams. Organisers say prizes will include:

• Medals and other competition awards
• Scholarships
• Experiences at the Esports Nations Cup
• New hardware for participating schools' facilities

The inclusion of school equipment and educational opportunities gives the competition a broader purpose beyond recognising individual gaming performance.

For EGAMES DUBAI27, the organisers say the aim is to create opportunities for students to connect, learn, create and compete while developing skills that can be useful beyond gaming.

Sunny Varkey, Chairman and Founder of Varkey Group and GEMS Education, said the initiative is designed to bring young people from around the world together and help them recognise the wider opportunities that can emerge from esports.

He said the skills developed through participation could open doors in technology, gaming, digital creativity and other industries.

How esports can support students' digital skills

Organisers are positioning the championship as an educational initiative as well as an international sporting competition.

Participation in structured esports can involve teamwork, communication, resilience and digital skills. Students must work with teammates, respond to changing situations and make decisions under competitive pressure.

These skills are increasingly relevant in a world where technology and digital creativity are becoming part of education and future careers.

The subject also connects with Dubai's wider discussion about technology in schools. The emirate's education regulator is developing a KHDA policy on AI and mobile phones in schools, reflecting the growing need to balance digital innovation with student learning and safeguarding.

The championship's educational ambitions will also extend beyond the tournaments themselves.

Which countries have joined the championship?

Fourteen national esports federations have committed to EGAMES DUBAI27 so far. They represent the following countries:

1. United Arab Emirates
2. United Kingdom
3. Argentina
4. Brazil
5. Kenya
6. Ghana
7. Nigeria
8. Ireland
9. Jordan
10. New Zealand
11. Saudi Arabia
12. Thailand
13. Türkiye
14. Zimbabwe

The organisers expect additional national federations to join in the coming months.

The Emirates Esports Federation is among the confirmed participants, giving the UAE a direct role in the international school competition it will host.

Varkey Group and British Esports Federation lead the initiative

The project brings together Varkey Group and the British Esports Federation, combining an education network with an organisation experienced in competitive esports.

GEMS Education has already joined as an education partner. Other organisations from the education and technology sectors have also been invited to support the initiative.

British Esports President and GEMS Esports Ambassador Chester King said the federation had been working since 2016 to establish esports as an educational and competitive opportunity for students.

He pointed to the federation's Student Champs series, which has more than 600 school teams competing across four titles. Its live finals attract hundreds of thousands of viewers, according to the figures he cited.

The international championship is intended to take school-level competition beyond individual national programmes and create opportunities for students to compete across countries.

Why Dubai is hosting the international school esports finals

Dubai's selection reflects its wider ambitions to develop gaming, esports and technology-related industries.

One of the emirate's major initiatives is the Dubai Programme for Gaming 2033, launched by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.

Other efforts include the Dubai Esports and Games Festival's education and youth engagement programme, the Dubai Media Council's establishment of the Dubai Gaming Committee, and the inclusion of esports among priority emerging sports in the Dubai Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033.

The emirate has also been expanding its calendar of events and activities. Readers can explore our guide to Dubai events in November 2026 for a look at the wider programme of activities taking place across the city.

Education summit planned alongside the championship

Alongside the live finals, organisers plan to hold an education summit in Dubai for teachers, partners and other stakeholders.

The summit is expected to cover several subjects, including:

• Esports education
• Digital skills
• Artificial intelligence
• Student safeguarding
• Coaching
• Skills needed for future careers

The programme is intended to encourage discussion about how esports can be incorporated into educational settings and how schools can prepare students for opportunities in technology-related industries.

The Commonwealth Youth Programme has also recognised esports as a potential route for youth engagement, employability and digital skills development.

Layne Robinson, former Head of Social Policy at the Commonwealth Secretariat, said esports can provide young people with opportunities to take part in team competition and develop digital skills. He also referred to the recognition by Commonwealth Youth Ministers of esports' potential to encourage youth participation and innovation.

As preparations continue, EGAMES DUBAI27 will bring together schools, national federations and education partners around a competition that places gaming within a wider conversation about learning and future skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is EGAMES DUBAI27?

It is an international school esports championship co-created by Varkey Group and the British Esports Federation. Students will compete through national tournaments for a place at the international finals in Dubai.

When will the EGAMES World Championship take place?

The inaugural live finals are scheduled for April 2027.

Where will the finals be held?

The finals will take place at GEMS School of Research & Innovation in Dubai.

Who can participate?

Students studying during the 2026/27 academic year are eligible. The competition is open to students from government-run, state-funded and private schools, with qualification through national tournaments.

Which games will be included?

The three competitions are EA SPORTS FC 27, Rocket League and a Minecraft build tournament.

Which countries have confirmed participation?

Fourteen national esports federations have committed so far, including those from the UAE, UK, Argentina, Brazil, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Ireland, Jordan, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Türkiye and Zimbabwe.

What prizes will winning teams receive?

Prizes will include medals, scholarships, experiences at the Esports Nations Cup and new hardware for school facilities.

How can schools find out more or register?

Schools, national federations and education partners can find further information at www.egames.gg. Students should check the website and their national esports federation for qualification details.