UAE Muay Thai Youth Championship to start on Friday

The UAE Muay Thai Youth Championship will commence on Friday at Hall 3 of the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Organized by the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation, the event is part of the federation’s competitive calendar and reflects its commitment to advancing the sport, offering top development opportunities, and elevating it to the global stage.

The championship will bring together a vibrant mix of talented young athletes representing clubs from across the UAE as well as international teams from abroad. Competitors, aged between 10 and 17 years, will showcase their skills, determination, and sportsmanship as they vie for victory in an impressive lineup of over 90 weight categories.

To ensure fair and exciting matchups, participants will compete within four distinct age brackets: 10–11 years, 12–13 years, 14–15 years, and 16–17 years.

This diverse structure not only highlights the depth of talent across different stages of youth development but also promises an action-packed championship filled with inspiring performances from the sport’s rising stars.

The tournament programme begins with weigh-ins and medical checks for participants on Wednesday, August 13, at the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

The preliminary rounds will take place on August 15 from 3pm to 9pm, followed by the semi-finals on August 16 from 10am to 7pm. The final day, August 17, will see the championship bouts starting at 10am, concluding at 7pm with the crowning of the champions.

Ali Khouri, Board Member and Executive Director of the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation, said: “We are pleased to announce the UAE Muay Thai Youth Championship, part of this season’s competition calendar and in line with the directives of Abdullah Saeed Al Neyadi, President of the federation, to support youth ambitions and make the most of the summer break to hone emerging talents.

“The federation is also focusing on preparing the Muay Thai sector for next month’s Youth World Championship at Space 42 Arena — an important step towards achieving our goal of taking the sport to the highest levels.”

He added: “This championship is an ideal opportunity for clubs and Fighters from inside and outside the UAE, and a vital platform for the federation to assess Fighter performance and discover talents to represent the national team at the Youth World Championship. We are committed to ensuring the best organizational standards and providing all necessary resources to bring the youth national team to peak readiness for the upcoming global stage.

“We have completed all preparations for the tournament, keeping participation open to both domestic and international athletes to raise the competitive level and maximize the benefits gained — positively contributing to our efforts to expand the sport’s reach and develop our national teams.”

Founded in May 2017, the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation is the official governing body for both sports in the UAE.