Emirates Champions Season gets UAE Kickboxing’s domestic calendar under way

The UAE Kickboxing Championship (Seniors Category) gets under way on Friday, September 11, at Mubadala Dome, Al Jazira Sports Club in Abu Dhabi, opening the domestic calendar of the 2026–27 sporting season under the umbrella of the “Emirates Champions Season”.

Organised by the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation, the championship runs across three days of competition through to Sunday, 13 September, and marks the first title of the season on home soil.

Competition will be staged across all four disciplines of the sport: Point Fight and Kick Light on the tatami, alongside Low Kick and K-1 in the ring, all under the technical regulations of the World Association of Kickboxing (WAKO).

The championship schedule will begin on Wednesday, with weigh-in and medical examinations from 4pm to 8pm at the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

The preliminary rounds will take place on Friday, from 3pm to 8pm at Mubadala Dome, Al Jazira Sports Club, followed by the semi-finals on Saturday.

The championship will conclude on Sunday, with the finals and podium ceremonies running from 12pm to 8pm, culminating in the crowning of champions across all categories.

As the opening chapter of the Emirates Champions Season, the championship carries added weight for athletes, clubs and academies. It is the first competitive stage on which the level of preparation across the country will be measured, and sets the tone for a calendar that will run through to June 2027.

The Emirates Champions Season features nine national championships and a diverse programme of Muay Thai and Kickboxing competitions across all age categories, giving athletes and clubs regular opportunities to compete, develop and sharpen their technical readiness.

Ali Khouri, Board Member of the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation, said:

“The UAE Kickboxing Championship opens the new domestic season at a moment we expect to reflect the continued growth the sport is experiencing across the country. It gives our athletes an early opportunity to compete officially, raise their level of exposure, and sharpen their technical readiness for what comes next in the season.”

He added: “We are looking forward to strong technical performances that reflect the development of our athletes and the depth of the work being done inside our clubs and academies. With four disciplines on show, the championship gives every participant the chance to test their abilities and grow their experience in a properly organised competitive environment.”

He continued: “We are committed to continuing to organise championships that give our athletes real opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities and raise their technical and competitive levels. That work supports the role of our clubs and academies in preparing and refining talent, and it feeds directly into the standing of UAE Kickboxing and the ambitions we hold for the commitments ahead.”

Established in May 2017, the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation is the official governing body for both sports in the United Arab Emirates. The Federation develops the technical, cultural and community foundations of Muay Thai and Kickboxing across the country, while preparing national teams capable of competing at the highest amateur and professional levels regionally and internationally.