How the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation is making the country a sports hub

The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation has been hosting global Jiu-Jitsu events in Abu Dhabi for many years, attracting global talent from around the world. How do you think this affects the economy?

For over a decade, the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) has been hosting international Jiu-Jitsu competitions in Abu Dhabi, drawing thousands of athletes, fans and family members from around the world to the UAE capital. These recurring events not only established and cemented Abu Dhabi’s status as the global Jiu-Jitsu capital, but also popularized the sport in the region. We’ve seen the Asian Championships and other AJP Tour events take place at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena in Zayed Sports City and just finished the Jiu-Jitsu World Championships and Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championships in October and November.

Going back to your original question, hosting an event that attracts international athletes leads to thousands of foreign tourists coming to the city, which obviously has a major impact on tourism and the overall economy of the emirate. For example, the Jiu-Jitsu World Championships and Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championships, held in Abu Dhabi last November, saw more than 6,000 men and women compete. This year, the figure will rise again, which will further boost the sports, tourism and economic sectors.

How do you see sports tourism booming in Abu Dhabi and the region?
There is no doubt that Abu Dhabi has established itself as a premier sports destination and has hosted many important international competitions. The city has hosted Formula 1, the FIFA Club World Cup, three consecutive Jiu-Jitsu World Championships and hosted the NBA for the first time. Putting on events is one thing, but to keep these sporting events coming back to the UAE shows not only that we are doing a commendable job, but also that the organization and the fans are happy to be back here. Public excitement about these events is also at an unprecedented level. We are certainly experiencing a sporting boom of sorts, and several factors have contributed to this boom including leadership support, ideal infrastructure, connectivity, and most importantly, a sports-loving audience.

We’ve seen the sport of jiu jitsu grow in the region and Abu Dhabi is now widely considered the global capital of the sport. How can the sport going global help further the UAE’s economic development?
As mentioned earlier, the more sporting events Abu Dhabi hosts, the more tourists from all over the world. As jiu-jitsu grows in popularity and interest in it worldwide, more and more international athletes are eventually heading to Abu Dhabi, which is both the global capital of the sport and home to many international The venue of the event. With so many major sporting events planned for the coming months, we expect a significant economic impact.

Do you think sports create jobs?
Absolutely. Any major international event held in Abu Dhabi generates employment, and sporting events are no exception. The hard work of many people goes through the entire process of hosting an event: from planning the event, creating the infrastructure, to the actual execution of the event, to the afterthought.