Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship 3rd Edition Kicks Off Tomorrow In Dubai

The third edition of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship is set to open at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex in Dubai, drawing wide participation from clubs and academies across the UAE and confirming its role as a central national event for jiu-jitsu development.

The first round focuses on No Gi contests held across two days, bringing together male and female athletes from multiple age brackets in an organised competitive format. Fans and officials view the championship as an important stage for testing skills and measuring progress across the country’s growing jiu-jitsu community.

Organisers have divided the opening round by age group to ensure structured competition and clear progression for participants. Saturday is allocated to the U12, U14 and U16 divisions, while Sunday features the U18, Adults and Masters categories, allowing each segment focused time on the mats and tailored technical supervision.

Officials highlight that the event is not limited to results and medals, but also promotes education through sport. Abdullah Salem Al Zaabi, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: "The championship contributes to strengthening the values associated with jiu-jitsu through a competitive environment that supports technical development and instils principles of responsibility and discipline among athletes."

Al Zaabi added that the structure of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship reflects a wider strategy to use sport as a social bridge. "The wide range of age categories, from youth to Masters, reflects a comprehensive vision of the role of sport in bringing different segments of society together within a unified framework that encourages positive interaction between generations and reinforces sport as an inclusive platform for all."

Athletes’ preparation and goals at the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Competitors arrive with clear objectives, especially those seeking to defend titles secured in earlier seasons. Hamdan Salem, an athlete from Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club (U16), said: "Taking part in the first round represents an important start for us as athletes, especially after the successes achieved by the club in previous seasons. We are preparing with strong focus and approach the bouts aiming to deliver performances that reflect the work we put in during training and our commitment to the technical staff’s instructions."

Salem underlined the weight of expectations on returning champions within the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship. He said: "Defending the title is a big responsibility, and we know the competition will be stronger this season. At Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club, we work as a team and approach every bout with confidence and discipline, with the aim of continuing positive results and representing the club in a way that matches its achievements."

Jiu-jitsu followers in the UAE are watching the championship closely, viewing the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship as a key national platform for spotting emerging talent, upgrading technical levels and enhancing the UAE’s visibility on the global jiu-jitsu scene, while promoting ambition, fair competition and pride in the country’s sporting identity.

With inputs from WAM