UAE National Team medal tally swells at Jiu-Jitsu World Championship

The UAE Jiu-Jitsu National Team, sponsored by Mubadala Investment Company, continued their strong campaign at the 2026 Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, winning five medals, including three gold and two silver, in the Adult men’s competition on Friday at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi.

The latest results take the national team’s overall tally at the championship to 62 medals.

The 2026 Jiu-Jitsu World Championship is being held under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

Hosted by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation and organised by the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation, the championship runs until Aug.9. It has brought together more than 1,500 athletes from around the world.

UAE athletes competed across the Under-56kg, Under-62kg, Under-69kg and Under-77kg divisions on Friday, producing a series of strong performances. Two all-UAE finals were among the day’s highlights, with the hosts winning both gold and silver in the Under-56kg and Under-62kg divisions.

Rashid Al Shehhi took gold in the Under-56kg category, with teammate Omar Al Suwaidi claiming silver. Mohammed Al Ketbi won the Under-62kg title, while Khaled Al Shehhi took silver. Omar Al Fadhli completed the UAE’s three-gold haul with victory in the Under-69kg division.

Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation and Secretary-General of the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union, said: “Having two UAE athletes reach the final in the same weight category is a great result.

“It shows the strength of our national team and that we have more than one athlete capable of competing at the highest level in the same division.

“Strong competition within the team helps our athletes improve and gives our coaches more options. It also shows the strength of our development system and our ability to continue preparing athletes for major international competitions.

“Competitions in the lighter weight divisions are very fast-paced, and there is little room for mistakes. Athletes need to control the pace and stay calm throughout the match. Our athletes handled these situations very well today, and we will continue building on this.”

Gold medallist Omar Al Fadhli said: “I am very happy with this achievement, especially after some tough matches against top international athletes.

“I would like to thank the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation for all the support it gives us, including coaches, training camps and preparation programmes. This support helps us perform at our best and continue achieving success for the UAE.”

Gold medallist Mohammed Al Ketbi added: “We enter every championship to achieve success and raise the UAE flag. I was happy to compete in an all-UAE final against a strong athlete like Khaled Al Shehhi. It shows the high level our national team athletes have reached.

“We hope to continue performing well and achieve more success in the competitions ahead.”

The UAE National Team continue their Adult men’s campaign on Saturday, with athletes competing in the Under-85kg, Under-94kg and +94kg divisions. The team will look to add more medals to its tally before the championship concludes on Sunday.

The day’s competition was attended by Abdulmunem Alsayed Mohammed Alhashmi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, President of the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union and Senior Vice President of the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation; Panagiotis Theodoropoulos, President of the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation; Kerrith Brown, President of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation; Yousef Abdullah Al Batran and Humaid Mohammed Al Ketbi, Board Members of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation; and Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation and Secretary-General of the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union.

Turkish athlete gains valuable experience in Abu Dhabi: Ismail Koray Karatayli, a Turkish Jiu-Jitsu athlete, said that representing his country means a lot to him. “My family and my coach have supported me a lot, and I want to make them proud.”

He made the remarks during his participation in the 2026 Jiu-Jitsu World Championship at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi.

The long journeys and hours of training have paid off. Karatayli earned a place in the Turkiye National Team and represented his country at the championship, competing in the Adults Ju-Jitsu Fighting Male Under-77kg division.