Abu Dhabi: The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) and Mubadala Investment Company have on Thursday signed a historic agreement to sponsor the UAE national team and secure naming rights of the UAE capital’s Jiu Jitsu Arena. The strategic partnership strengthens both parties’ commitment to supporting the nation’s athletes, broadening the sport’s horizons, and enhancing the country’s leadership position globally.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi by Abdul Monem Al Hashemi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, President of the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Union, and Senior Vice-President of International Jiu-Jitsu Federation, and Homaid Al Shimmari, Deputy Group CEO and Chief Corporate & Human Capital Officer at Mubadala.
The sponsorship confirms Mubadala as the exclusive sponsor of the UAE national jiu-jitsu team across all its divisions as well as lending its name to the Jiu-Jitsu Arena in Zayed Sports City. The deal aligns with Mubadala’s community initiatives to support Emirati talent and demonstrates the sovereign wealth fund’s eagerness to support the country’s national team, which has won numerous global championships in recent years.
Unwavering support
Speaking at a press conference announcing the partnership, Al Hashemi thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, for his unwavering support of athletics and sports.
“The UAEJJF is always eager to work with the leading national institutions to develop the sport in the UAE,” said Al Hashemi. “The Mubadala Investment Company is regarded as a role model for all national institutions when it comes to empowering the nation’s youth and encouraging our talented athletes to keep shining. We look forward to strengthening relations.”
Opportunity to excel
Homaid Abdalla Al Shimmari, Deputy Group CEO, Chief Corporate and Human Capital Officer, Mubadala Investment Company, said: “Witnessing the local youth achieving incredible milestones in sports is a great source of national pride for Mubadala. Through our strategic partnership with the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, we are sponsoring the UAE National Jiu-Jitsu teams and the Jiu Jitsu Arena. We are proud to provide athletes with the opportunity to excel at local, regional, and international levels.”
The announcement is timely, coming as it does with the national team preparing to participate in several international tournaments, including the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship in Abu Dhabi at the end of this month, the Asian Championship in Thailand in February, and eight other world championships within the next 12 months.
The UAE national jiu-jitsu team has enjoyed great success of late, winning at the Asian Championship, the World Championship, and the World Games 2022 in Birmingham, US.
