Mr and Ms World Championship begins in Fujairah

With registration, weigh-ins, and the announcement of final participation schedules, the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) Mr and Ms World Championship kicked off in Fujairah on Friday.

Held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, the prestigious championships features participation of 920 athletes including male and female from 116 countries.

700 are taking part in the amateur category and 220 in the professional category across different weights and heights.

The participants are competing in Amateur Bodybuilding: 6 weight classes – 75kg, 80kg, 85kg, 90kg, 95kg, and +95kg. Professional Bodybuilding (Men): 2 weight classes – 95kg, +95kg (Open, premier division worldwide). Professional Men’s Physique: 1 open height category. Amateur Men’s Physique: 3 height classes – up to 171cm, up to 180cm, over 180cm.

Women’s Physique: 3 height classes – up to 163cm, up to 169cm, over 169cm.

The top 15 amateur competitors will receive professional cards, enabling them to compete in the professional category on the final day.

Competitors underwent precise measurements to ensure their compliance with designated weight categories — a crucial procedural step in the championship, as it determines each athlete’s placement in the appropriate division.

The global event, which runs until September 7, is taking place at the Zayed Sports Complex in Fujairah and is organized by the Fujairah Department of Industry and Economy, in cooperation with the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation and Emirates Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation.

Engineer Mohammed Obaid Bin Majed, Director of the Fujairah Department of Industry and Economy and Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee of the two championships, stated that the official weigh-in procedures mark a preparatory step before the official competitions.

He emphasized that this process ensures fairness and equal opportunities for all competitors, reflecting the championship’s distinguished organizational standards.

He further explained that the fourth edition of the (IFBB) Mr and Ms World Championship for amateurs and professionals, together with the World Professional Championship (which the International Federation had requested to merge into the same event), will take place on a single stage.

He noted that this year’s event has attracted an elite lineup of professional athletes, including bodybuilding stars David Bodebi (Nigeria), Mika Sihvonen (Finland), Ilya Lukovets (Russia), and Ahmed El Sayed (Egypt), while Thierry Bayala (France) stands out as one of the top names in the physique category.

Dr Rafael Santonja, President of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness, expressed his delight at the launch of the World Bodybuilding Championships in Fujairah, which has become a prestigious sporting destination that brings together the world’s top athletes under one roof in the UAE. He emphasized that this championship represents the most professional event on the federation’s calendar, reflecting Fujairah’s growing prominence on the global sports map, thanks to the unwavering support of its wise leadership and its world-class infrastructure that has created ideal conditions for competition.

Dr Santonja further affirmed that throughout its 25 years of organization, this championship has grown beyond a mere sporting competition to become a platform for cultural exchange, a bridge between nations, and a universal language that unites shared human values, promotes sportsmanship, and highlights the professional standards of bodybuilding as a sport.