KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
The 18th edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Abu Dhabi World Pro) is set to welcome more than 10,000 athletes from 130 countries to the Mubadala Arena at Zayed Sports City from November 9 to 21.
Recognised as the season-ending highlight of the international jiu-jitsu calendar, the event features a prize pool exceeding Dh3 million. Over 5,000 participants will travel from overseas to compete, underscoring the tournament's global reach.
Speaking at a press conference at Emirates Palace, Mohamed Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, highlighted the growth of the championship.
"Over the past 18 years, the championship has become one of the major events on the international jiu-jitsu calendar, bringing together some of the best athletes, clubs and academies from around the world," Al Dhaheri said.
"This year, 54% of participants are coming from outside the UAE, while 46% are from within the country. These figures show the championship's strong international appeal."
For overseas athletes, the UAE capital has become the premier destination for the sport. Brazilian black belt contender Jefferson Goteu emphasised the status of the championship and the unmatched support offered in Abu Dhabi compared to his home country.
"If you want to be the best in the world jiu-jitsu, you must be in Abu Dhabi," Goteu said. "The capital of jiu-jitsu is in Abu Dhabi, is in UAE. Because the way that jiu-jitsu government supports jiu-jitsu, that is impossible you find in any place else."
Goteu noted that the event represents the culmination of a year of hard work. "World Pro is the biggest event of the year, the biggest event of the season," he added. "I have been competing like 12 months exactly, just waiting for the World Pro."
Emirati veteran Faisal Al Ketbi, who is assisting the national team, reflected on the evolution of domestic talent since the tournament’s early days.
"I first competed in this championship in 2009 as a blue belt and later went on to compete as a black belt," Al Ketbi said. "The level of competition has improved a lot over the years, and I am proud to have been the first Emirati to win a brown belt gold medal here."
The development of local talent is anchored by grass-roots initiatives across the country. Fouad Darwish, CEO and Managing Director of Palms Sports, highlighted the scale of the national school program, which forms the foundation of the UAE's jiu-jitsu ecosystem.
"We at Palms Sports operate the greatest, the most widespread jiu-jitsu training program in the world, where we train in 270 government schools every single day, approximately 160,000 young men and women," Darwish said.
"Almost 50% of the participants are females. Given the fact for boys it's mandatory, for girls it's optional, yet 50% of the 160,000 are young ladies that chose to do so."
Darwish also noted the added pressure on local athletes competing on home soil. "Competing in your home ground causes more pressure because you want to represent your country. You want to be proud in front of your people," he said.
With preparations complete, the Mubadala Arena is set to stage 13 days of elite competition, reinforcing Abu Dhabi's status as the global capital of jiu-jitsu.