Abu dhabi: The UAE Jiu-Jitsu National Team, sponsored by Mubadala Investment Company, is gearing up to participate in the 2026 Paris Open Grand Prix, a prominent international competition that attracts top jiu-jitsu athletes from across the globe.
According to Emirates News Agency, the championship is scheduled from April 24 to 26, 2026, in Paris. The event will begin with official weigh-ins on Friday, April 24, followed by preliminary and semi-final matches on Saturday. The finals will take place on Sunday, concluding a rigorous schedule designed to test the athletes' physical and mental endurance over the three days.
The UAE National Team comprises both male and female athletes competing in various weight categories. The men's roster includes Rashed Mohammed Alshehhi and Abdulrahman Sayedna Sayed Mohammed in the 56kg category, Abdulrahman Abdulhak in the 62kg category, Ahmad Khalifa Andeez and Faisal Alwahedi in the 69kg category, Saeed Humaid Alkaabi in the 85kg category, Amaar Alhosani and Abdulla Ahmed Al Kaabi in the 94kg category, and Rashid Alhimany in the +94kg category.
The women's team features Mariam Al-Ali in the 45kg category, Balqees Abdulkarim and Alanoud Ibrahim Abdulla Alharbi in the 48kg category, and Meera Hasan Ali Hasan Alhosani in the 52kg category. The team is currently undergoing a training camp focusing on technical and tactical skills, along with physical and mental preparation, to ensure peak performance during the competition.
Mubarak Saleh Al Menhali, Technical Director at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, emphasized the significance of the championship in the national team's competition calendar due to the high level of competition. He noted that the participation offers a strategic opportunity to evaluate the athletes' development and readiness to compete against world champions, while also allowing the federation to track international developments and improve preparation systems.
Ibrahim Al Hosani, the National Team coach, highlighted that the training program is centered on technical details essential for managing high-level matches and maximizing athletes' strengths according to their weight categories. He stated that the team is focused on simulating different match scenarios and that the athletes are responding well to technical instructions.
This participation is aligned with the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation's strategy to bolster the country's achievements in the sport on the international stage, enhance athletes' readiness by exposing them to diverse styles, and improve their capability to handle pressure in major championships.