Dubai to Host EGAMES DUBAI27 School Esports Championship in 2027

What Happened

Registration has opened for ‘EGAMES DUBAI27’, an international esports competition for students. The initiative is a co-creation between Varkey Group and the British Esports Federation, with Gems Education serving as an education partner [1].

Key details of the event include:

• Live Finals: Scheduled to take place in April 2027 at the GEMS School of Research & Innovation (SRI) in Dubai [1].
• Game Titles: The championship will feature three specific competitions: EA SPORTS FC 27, Rocket League, and a Minecraft build tournament [1].
• Participating Nations: Fourteen national esports federations have committed to the competition so far, including those from the UAE, UK, Argentina, Brazil, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Ireland, Jordan, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Türkiye, and Zimbabwe [1]. The Emirates Esports Federation is among those committed [1].
• Prizes: Winning teams are set to receive medals, scholarships, experiences at the Esports Nations Cup, and new hardware for their school facilities [1].
• Additional Events: Organisers plan to hold an education summit in Dubai for teachers, partners, and stakeholders to discuss topics such as esports education, digital skills, artificial intelligence, coaching, and safeguarding [1].

Sunny Varkey, Chairman and Founder of Varkey Group and Gems Education, stated the initiative aims to help young people connect and learn through competition [1]. Chester King, British Esports President and Gems Esports Ambassador, noted the federation has worked to establish esports as an educational opportunity since 2016 [1].

Who Is Affected

• Students: Students studying during the 2026/27 academic year are eligible to participate [1]. The competition is open to students from all school types, including private, state-funded, and government-run institutions [1].
• Schools: Participating schools can compete for hardware prizes and scholarships [1].
• Teachers and Stakeholders: They are invited to the planned education summit in Dubai [1].

What Students Should Do Next

• National Qualification: Students who wish to reach the finals in Dubai must first compete in national tournaments organized by their own country’s esports federation [1].
• Information Access: Interested schools, national federations, and education partners can find further information at the official EGAMES website [1].