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The UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, on Wednesday, announced the formation of the organising committee for the 18th edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship (ADWPJJC), which will take place from November 9 to 21, 2026, at Mubadala Arena, Abu Dhabi.
The announcement comes as the Federation steps up preparations for the championship, which serves as the culmination of the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP) Tour season and reinforces its status as the world’s largest jiu-jitsu championship.
The committee will be chaired by H.E. Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, with Mohamed Hussain Al Marzooqi, Board Member of the Federation, serving as Vice Chairman. Members include Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, Secretary General of the UAE and Asian Jiu-Jitsu Federations; Fouad Darwish, CEO of Palms Sports; Tariq Omar Al Bahri, General Manager of AJP; Mohammed Al Hosani, Member of the MMA Committee at the Federation; and Abdullah Salem Al Zaabi, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications at the Federation, who will serve as Championship Director.
The committee’s responsibilities span organisational, administrative, and technical areas, including finance, logistics, marketing, corporate communications, sponsor and partner relations, government coordination, technical operations, and athlete affairs, ensuring seamless collaboration across all teams involved in the event.
The organising committee recently held its first meeting to review progress and discuss key operational, technical, media and marketing plans of the championship.
H.E. Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri said the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship has established itself as one of the sport’s most prestigious events, thanks to its world-class organisation and the participation of elite athletes from around the globe.
He added that Abu Dhabi’s continued organising of the championship reflects the UAE leadership’s commitment to supporting sport, investing in people and reinforcing the country’s position as a global hub for sporting excellence.
“We are working to deliver an exceptional edition of the championship through early planning, institutional coordination and close collaboration between all committees and working teams to ensure the highest levels of readiness,” Al Dhaheri said.
“The upcoming edition carries special significance as the championship continues to expand its global reach. The most recent edition attracted more than 10,000 athletes from over 130 countries, and we are targeting 12,000 athletes in the next edition, reflecting the event’s continued growth and increasing international prominence.”
The championship is the pinnacle of an interconnected competitive ecosystem. Throughout the season, AJP Tour rounds give athletes opportunities to compete, earn ranking points, develop their skills, and build technical readiness before reaching the sport’s biggest stage in Abu Dhabi.
This structure maintains competitive momentum throughout the year and reinforces the value of competition across local, continental and international events, culminating in the world’s largest gathering of jiu-jitsu athletes.
Beyond its sporting significance, the championship also reflects the UAE’s commitment to developing sport as a platform for promoting discipline, respect and a sense of belonging, while reinforcing the country’s position as a global destination for major sporting events.
Beyond its sporting impact, the championship contributes to wider social and economic development by encouraging community participation in sport, inspiring younger generations to practise jiu-jitsu and promoting values such as perseverance, discipline and self-confidence. It also supports key sectors linked to major events, including tourism, hospitality, transportation and services, further strengthening sport’s contribution to economic growth and quality of life.
The championship’s success is built on the collaboration between the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and MMA Federation, AJP, continental and international federations, government entities, sponsors and operational, media and technical teams, ensuring a world-class experience for athletes, spectators and delegations.
During its meeting, the Organising Committee reviewed key aspects of the championship’s preparations, including opening ceremony plans, delegation services, the technical programme, hospitality, transportation, accommodation and other operational and logistical arrangements.
Members also discussed operational structures, responsibilities and coordination mechanisms between committees and working teams, alongside administrative requirements to ensure the event is delivered to the highest standards.
The committee reviewed the championship’s marketing and communications plans, including promotional activities and initiatives to strengthen media visibility locally and internationally, as well as the operational framework for managing the event and ensuring seamless coordination between all stakeholders before and during the competition.
The organising committee stressed the importance of teamwork and leveraging national expertise to deliver another outstanding edition of the championship, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading jiu-jitsu event and supporting Abu Dhabi’s status as the world capital of jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts.
The committee also praised the contributions of partners, supporting entities and operational teams, noting that the successful delivery of an event of this scale depends on early planning, institutional coordination and strong partnerships that together ensure a world-class experience for all participants and visitors.