The UAE national team, supported by the Mubadala Investment Company, concluded the 2026 Jiu-Jitsu World Championship on a triumphant note. Over nine days of intense competition at the Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, the hosts secured world titles in both the Adult and Under-21 Newaza divisions.
The event drew more than 1,500 athletes from across the globe to compete in various age groups and disciplines. The UAE squad delivered a dominant performance on home turf, amassing a total of 65 medals, which included 18 gold, 17 silver, and 30 bronze.
The Adult team achieved a significant milestone by topping the overall standings across all disciplines, despite focusing their efforts exclusively on Newaza. This accomplishment stands out given that the overall rankings also accounted for results from Contact Jiu-Jitsu, Fighting, Duo, and Show categories. Meanwhile, the Under-21 team’s top finish in the Newaza competition highlighted the depth of the nation’s emerging talent and their successful transition toward the senior ranks.
The championship wrapped up on Sunday with the team and Para Jiu-Jitsu events. The closing ceremonies featured several dignitaries, including Jiu-Jitsu International Federation President Panagiotis Theodoropoulos, Palms Sports CEO Fouad Darwish, Premier Motors General Manager for Jaguar Land Rover Saed Hijazi Salameh, and UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation Secretary-General Fahad Ali Al Shamsi.
Abdulmunem Alsayed Mohammed Alhashmi, who serves as Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, President of the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union, and Senior Vice President of the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation, attributed the success to the vision of the UAE leadership. He noted that the growth of the sport is driven by the support of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“These achievements are the result of our leadership’s strong belief in sport and its role in developing people, discovering talent and creating champions,” Alhashmi stated. He further emphasized that winning titles in both the Adult and Under-21 divisions, alongside leading the overall Adult standings, serves as a testament to the athletes’ progress. Alhashmi also expressed gratitude to Sheikh Khaled for his patronage, which he credited for the event’s smooth execution and for reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a premier destination for international sports.
Individual athletes also reflected on their successes. Adult Under-69kg gold medallist Omar Al Fadhli expressed pride in his contribution to the team’s collective achievement, noting that the victory required intense focus and the application of years of experience. Similarly, Adult Under-52kg champion Asma Al Hosani remarked that competing at home added a special dimension to the event, emphasizing the importance of remaining calm and executing her training plan during the final matches.
Younger competitors also looked toward the future. Under-21 Under-56kg gold medallist Abdulrahman Mohammed stated, “This gold medal is an important step for me and something I can build on. I know the level will be higher and the challenges will be tougher in the future.” He added that the title provides significant motivation as he prepares to transition into the adult division. Al Anoud Al Harbi, the Under-21 Under-48kg gold medallist, credited the team’s daily training environment and mutual competitiveness as the primary drivers behind their ongoing improvement.
The Under-21 Team added a second world title for the hosts by finishing top of the Newaza competition, underlining the strength of the UAE’s next generation of athletes and their progression towards the senior national t
Abdulrahman Mohammed, who won Under-21 Under-56kg gold, said: “Winning a world title at this stage of my career gives me great motivation for the next step.
Al Anoud Al Harbi, the under-21 under-48 kg gold medallist, said: “One of the main reasons we continue to improve is the strong competition we have in training every day.
At a World Championship, you cannot think only about winning.
You have to stay focused and know how to deal with every moment and every opponent.
It also gives me more responsibility to keep improving and achieve more for the UAE.”
When you reach the final, you know that all the training and preparation come down to those few minutes.
My focus was on following the plan, doing what I had trained for and staying calm.
“Winning gold against top-level competition gives me a lot of confidence, but it also motivates me to keep improving and perform even better in future competitions.”
We always push each other to perform better.
