Vice President’s Jiu-Jitsu Cup to kick off on May 2 at Shabab Al Ahli club

The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation announced the start of the Vice President’s Jiu-Jitsu Cup from Saturday.

The tournament will be held on May 2 and 3 at the Shabab Al Ahli club hall in Dubai, featuring nine elite clubs and academies from across the country, in one of the most important events on the local season calendar.

The championship will see strong competition among clubs for top positions across different categories, reflecting both its technical and symbolic significance, and solidifying its position as one of the season’s key highlights. The total prize money for the tournament exceeds Dhs1 million.

The preliminary rounds will begin on Saturday, followed by the final bouts on Sunday, with participation in under-14, under-16, under-18, and senior categories, as well as team competitions.

The competition format for each category will be determined based on the number of participating clubs, ranging from best-of-three matches to group-stage competitions, leading up to the finals to determine first, second, and third place winners.

In the previous edition of the championship, four different clubs claimed titles in their respective categories: Sharjah Club for Martial Arts secured the Under-14 crown, Al Ain Club took the Under-16 title, Al Jazira Club triumphed in the Under-18 category, and Bani Yas Club emerged victorious in the Senior division.

Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, Secretary General of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, stated that the tournament holds a special place in the local season calendar due to its competitive value and emotional significance for the jiu-jitsu community in the UAE.

He added that it brings together the best clubs in a team-based competition and gives players an important opportunity to test their readiness in a competitive environment.

He also emphasised that local tournaments help support the federation’s objectives of promoting the sport, expanding the base of participants, providing a continuous competitive pathway for age categories, and enhancing the role of clubs in training players and refining their skills, which positively impacts the performance of national teams and strengthens their ability to achieve strong results in continental and international competitions.

Santiago Ribamar, coach of Bani Yas club, last year’s senior category champion, noted that team tournaments involve a series of interconnected matches, not just a single bout, requiring careful management of each match within a team strategy.

He added that this year’s competition would be even tougher, as clubs have been preparing intensively to raise their readiness before the tournament begins. Recently, the UAE jiu-jitsu national team, concluded the 2026 Paris Open Grand Prix with 12 medals, including five golds.

The impressive haul emphasised the team’s composed, consistent performance on the mats across two days of high-level competition in the French capital.

The UAE national team opened their campaign with two gold medals, one silver, and two bronze on day one, before adding seven more the following afternoon, including three more gold, two silver, and two bronze.

Abdulrahman Abdulhaq secured the country’s first gold in Paris, triumphing in the 62kg category, while Faisal Alwahedi topped the 69kg division. Ahmad Khalifa Andeez earned silver at 69kg, while Rashed Mohammed Alshehhi and Abdulrahman Sayedna Sayed Mohammed each claimed bronze in the 56kg division.

Day two saw gold medals from Maryam Adnan Ali (45kg), Balqees Abdulkarim (48kg), and Ammar Khalil Al Hosani (94kg). Silver medals were secured by Al Anoud Ibrahim Al Harbi (48kg) and Saeed Hamad Al Kaabi (85kg), while Abdullah Ahmed Al Kaabi (94kg) and Meera Hassan Al Hosani (52kg) added two bronze medals.

The competition featured strong international participation, with athletes presenting diverse technical styles, resulting in closely contested bouts where outcomes were often decided by fine margins.