Abu Dhabi is gearing up to host the inaugural edition of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for Grappling this Saturday at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP), the prestigious one-day event will feature hundreds of athletes from 65 academies across 50 countries, representing a diverse array of age groups and skill levels.
The championship stands as a key fixture in AJP’s annual competition calendar and highlights the region’s emergence as a significant player in the combat sports scene. Athletes specialising in various grappling and ground fighting disciplines will compete, further underscoring the UAE’s vibrant and inclusive sports culture.
All official weigh-ins are scheduled to take place on the competition day itself, adhering to AJP regulations designed to ensure fairness and deliver a professional experience for every participant.
This debut edition is open exclusively to male athletes, featuring contests in the juniors, amateurs, professionals, and masters divisions. With participation open to all nationalities, the Grand Prix provides a broad international platform for athletes to showcase their talent on the mat.
According to Rodrigo Valerio, Operations Director at AJP, the inaugural Grand Prix “provides a key platform where experience meets ambition.” He highlighted the diversity of participants as a driving force behind the sport’s ongoing success and reiterated AJP’s commitment to ensuring a safe and fair competitive environment. Valerio also noted that this event marks “a new chapter in AJP’s grappling tournaments,” serving as a model for talent development while promoting a culture of combat sports throughout the region.
The launch of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for Grappling reaffirms the emirate’s commitment to staging world-class sporting events and strengthening its status as a global hub for martial arts and combat sports.
Team V.4-EM-UAE
