World Pro 2026 is almost here. From November 9 to 21, Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, will host the 18th edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, one of the most prestigious tournaments on the planet. Organized by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) and Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP), the event brings together athletes of different countries, ages and ranks chasing a title that carries weight on any competitor’s résumé.
JIU-JITSU CAPITAL: WORLD PRO EXPECTS AROUND 12,000 ATHLETES
The venue is the Mubadala Arena, in the Zayed Sports City complex, home of the championship in recent editions. Organizers expect around 12,000 athletes, men and women, over 13 days of competition.
The number confirms the event’s growth curve. In 2024, the 16th edition drew around 9,000 registrations from 137 countries and was billed as the biggest in history at the time. Last year, the 17th edition beat that mark and passed 10,000 athletes, representing more than 130 nations.
For readers following the sport from afar, the comparison is worth making: few tournaments in the world gather so many people on a single mat. In Abu Dhabi, it is common to see the first-time white belt, the veteran master and the black belt world champion in the same arena.
SCHEDULE: AMATEURS, YOUTH, MASTERS AND THE PROFESSIONAL ELITE
With so many registrations, World Pro is split into stages. According to the official AJP calendar, the action starts with the amateurs on November 9 and 10. Next come the youth divisions, from the 11th to the 13th, and the masters, on the 17th and 18th.
The highlight comes at the end. From November 19 to 21, the Mubadala Arena hosts the professional division, reserved for purple, brown and black belts. That is where the biggest names on the circuit and the most anticipated matches of the tournament are.
Weigh-ins for the professionals are scheduled for the 18th and 19th at the arena itself. Times for each division will still be confirmed by the organizers on the official event page.
A TRADITION SINCE 2009: FROM CUP TO THE EMIRATES’ BIGGEST STAGE
The story began in 2009, when Abu Dhabi hosted the first edition of the tournament, then called the World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup. Since then, the event has grown into the main showcase for Jiu-Jitsu in the United Arab Emirates, a country that turned the sport into state policy and now brings it into schools.
The investment shows on the podium. Last edition, Emirati Zayed Alkatheeri won his second professional black belt title after a tough final decided by golden score. The season awards ceremony, also at the Mubadala Arena, crowned Brazilians Lucas Protásio, named best black belt athlete, and Yara Nascimento, best athlete among brown and black belts.
SEASON FINALE: WHAT IS AT STAKE AT WORLD PRO
World Pro works as the grand finale of the AJP circuit. After stops around the world throughout the year, the top-ranked athletes land in Abu Dhabi to close the season in style.
That is why every win is worth more than a medal. A World Pro title opens doors, brings invitations to superfights and puts an athlete’s name among the best in the sport. It is no coincidence that many competitors plan their entire calendar around those days in November.
This article was originally published in Portuguese: read the original version.
