Hamdan inaugurates largest sports venue in Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan inaugurated the largest sports venue in the UAE capital at the Mubadala Sports Centre in Al Bahia.

Sheikh Hamdan was accompanied by Abdul Moneim Al Hashemi, President of the UAE and Asian Jiu-Jitsu Federations and First Vice President of the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation; Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice President of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), UAEJJF board member Mohammed Bin Dalmouk Al Dhaheri, and UAEJJF Secretary-General Fahad Ali Al Shamsi.

Hashemi said that this step is in line with the federation’s vision to promote jiu-jitsu in the UAE community, noting that opening such a world-class facility, which is the federation’s second jiu-jitsu venue, will help advance efforts to train professional fighters.

He expressed his appreciation to Sheikh Hamdan for his endless support of all sports projects and activities, highlighting the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, in driving the sports sector in the UAE.

The new facility is equipped with all the latest equipment, across several fields, which makes it an ideal destination for all men and women interested in sports.

Meanwhile, Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most prominent and rising sport of the UAE.

Abu Dhabi has enhanced its position at the forefront of combat sports with the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), the governing body for the sport in the emirates, expanding its mandate to oversee the development of mixed martial arts (MMA), as the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation.

The federation formed a committee to develop a variety of MMA disciplines aimed at enhancing their presence, ethics, and values and developing a new generation of athletes who can compete on the local and global stage.

During its latest meeting, the federation’s Board of Directors, headed by Hashemi, endorsed the formation of the new committee, in the presence of Dhaheri, board members Dalmouk, Youssef Al Batran; Samira Al Romaithi and Mansour Dhaheri.

Dalmouk has been appointed chairperson of the new committee which includes leading figures in UAE combat sports.

Mohammed Jassim Al Hosani is Secretary General. Key committee members include Mubarak El Menhali, the UAEJJF technical director; renowned MMA coach Umidjon Mavlyanov, and Fouad Darwish, CEO of Palms Sports, the leading UAE provider for sports training programs.

“MMA is one of the fastest growing sports and has been popular in this region for so many years. Jiu-Jitsu, being one of the foundations of MMA, is the UAE’s national sport, so it is the natural next step for the disciplines to combine. We are tremendously proud of the work we have done at the UAEJJF and the new UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation will take the sports to an unprecedented stage,” said Mohammed Bin Dalmouk Al Dhaheri.