Prize pool for Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship increased

His Highness Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, has directed an increase in the prize pool for the Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship to Dhs.3 million.

This initiative reflects His Highness’ commitment to nurturing athletic talent and empowering athletes to reach their full potential in a competitive environment that upholds the highest professional standards.

The move also contributes to reinforcing jiu-jitsu’s role as an effective tool for enhancing societal quality of life, given its positive impact in character building, discipline, mental wellbeing and physical fitness.

Abdulmunem Alsayed Mohammed Al Hashmi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, President of the Ju-Jitsu Asian Union and Senior Vice President of the Ju-Jitsu International Federation, has expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed for this generous gesture, which reflects His Highness’ commitment and close attention to the growth and advancement of the sport in the UAE.

He added that the initiative places greater responsibility on the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s board of directors to translate this support into impactful programmes that inspire athletes to develop their skills and provide optimal conditions for achieving sustainable athletic and social success.

Al Hashmi noted that jiu-jitsu has evolved beyond being a competitive sport; it has become a way of life that contributes to public health and promotes sports culture as a means to elevate wellbeing within the UAE community.

He also highlighted the championship’s progression into a national initiative that reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for combat sports and strengthens its social impact and presence, reflecting the UAE’s commitment to fostering and developing niche sports and expanding their international presence among the premier events on the global sporting calendar.

Meanwhile, organised by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, the fourth round of the Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Gi category, will take place from June 27-29, 2025 at Mubadala Arena, Abu Dhabi.

The event will feature broad participation from leading male and female athletes representing clubs and academies from across the UAE.

Competitions will take place over three days, starting with the youth, adults and masters categories on the first day, followed by the under-14 and under-16 categories on the second day, and concluding with the under-12 and juniors categories on the final day.

The diverse age group categories further reinforce the championship’s role as a key platform for preparing future champions, while offering equal opportunities for development and progression in the sport.

Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, expressed that the championship is making steady progress towards its goals of further elevating jiu-jitsu to new levels of performance and recognition.

He noted that the marked improvement in participants’ performances from round to round reflects the collective efforts of the federation, the athletes and their families. His Excellency also emphasised that the championship has become a vital platform for talent development and expanding the competitive base of the sport.

He said, “The championship carries an important social message. It is not just about competition; it also builds connections between families and athletes and promotes jiu-jitsu as a tool for character building and strengthening values. The growing turnout from participants and spectators confirms the success of this initiative and reflects how sport is becoming an integral part of Emirati society.”

Earlier, the UAE National Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship concluded with great success at the Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi recently.

The event, organised by the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP) in cooperation with the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, ran for three days and witnessed record participation from 1,455 male and female athletes representing 77 countries and over 86 specialised academies.