Description

The 27th Chess Olympiad, organized by FIDE, took place from November 14 to December 2, 1986, in Dubai, UAE. This event included both an open and a women's tournament, along with other chess-promoting activities.

The Olympiad was again affected by politics. Held in an Arab nation, Israel couldn't participate due to its state of war with several Arab countries. In protest, Western European countries like Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands, along with prominent players Viktor Korchnoi, Robert Hübner, and Eric Lobron, boycotted the event.

Without a championship match in progress, the Soviet Union fielded its strongest team, including world champion Kasparov and ex-champion Karpov. They narrowly won, finishing just half a point ahead of England, securing the top spot in the last round. The United States, leading after the penultimate round, ended up with the bronze medals.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1918–2004) was an Emirati leader, credited with founding the United Arab Emirates. He governed the Eastern Region before becoming Abu Dhabi's ruler in 1966 and later the UAE's first president until his passing in 2004. Revered as the "Father of the Nation," he played a pivotal role in uniting the seven emirates. Zayed succeeded his brother as Abu Dhabi's ruler after a peaceful coup in 1966.