Dhs400,000 prize purse announced for inaugural Al Majed Classic Bodybuilding Championship

The organizing committee of the Al Majed Classic 2026 has announced the technical and administrative details of the inaugural edition, which will take place from November 27 to 29, with a total prize purse of Dhs400,000.

The championship will feature competitions across multiple weight categories and bodybuilding divisions, with the organisers aiming to attract a large field of athletes and provide a platform for emerging talents to showcase their abilities.

The announcement was made during a press conference held at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, in the presence of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hamad Bin Saif Al Sharqi, Chairman of the UAE Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation; Ali Bin Haider, Vice Chairman; Mohammed Abdulaziz Al Majed, Vice President of the UAE Weightlifting Federation and Chairman of the Championship’s Higher Organizing Committee; as well as a number of prominent sports officials.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hamad Bin Saif Al Sharqi expressed his confidence that the inaugural edition would be a strong one, looking forward to the championship becoming a distinguished event on the international stage. He also praised the efforts of those involved and their contributions to the development of sport in the UAE.

He commended the efforts of the heads of the organizing committees of the Binous Classic and Al Majed Classic in supporting UAE bodybuilding and strengthening its presence. He said: “You have contributed greatly to UAE sport and to bodybuilding athletes, and you are the backbone of UAE bodybuilding.”

He also extended his thanks to Ali Bin Haider, Secretary-General Mohammed Abdulrahim Al Marri, and members of the Board of Directors, including Faisal Al Zaabi, Mohammed Shaheen Al Hosani, Ahmed Johar, and Secretary Abdul Majeed Yazbek, in recognition of their efforts in serving the sport and supporting bodybuilding championships.

For his part, Mohammed Abdulaziz Al Majed announced that registration is now open for athletes wishing to participate in the various competitions. He emphasized that the organizing committee aims to attract the largest possible number of athletes and provide a genuine platform for alongside the organizing committees and provides various forms of support to ensure the success of the championship. This, he said, will contribute to expanding opportunities to discover new talent and develop athletes’ competitors and emerging talents to showcase their abilities, develop their potential, and begin their journey toward major championships.

He explained that the ambition goes beyond organizing the inaugural edition, extending to contributing to the development of future champions and establishing the championship as a fixture on the sporting calendar.

Al Majed added that the organizing committee aims to build on this year’s edition and deliver an even bigger event next year, with improvements in the level of competition, attendance, and number of participants.

He expressed his appreciation to Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hamad Bin Saif Al Sharqi, the Dubai Sports Council, the UAE Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, and all supporting organizations, partners, and working teams for their support of the championship.

Mohammed Abdulrahim Al Marri praised the efforts of the Al Majed Team, confirming that the federation, under the direction of Sheikh Abdullah, stands alongside the organizing committees and provides various forms of support to ensure the success of the championship. This, he said, will contribute to expanding opportunities to discover new talent and develop athletes.

Mohammed Shaheen Al Hosani, Chairman of the Federation’s Technical Committee, confirmed that the championship will serve as an important platform for discovering UAE national talents, with the aim of eventually selecting them for the national team and involving them in upcoming competitions.

Regarding judging, Faisal Al Zaabi explained that the championship will feature 16 judges, including 11 from the UAE, two from the International Federation, and three from GCC countries.

Captain Younes Moussa will serve as the Championship Director. He said that the championship will contribute significantly to attracting athletes, including emerging talents, and supporting the UAE national teams.