Abu Dhabi Grand Slam judo opens with elite international competition

The prestigious 2026 tournament commenced at Mubadala Arena under distinguished patronage, welcoming the world's finest judokas for three days of Olympic qualification competition.

The opening day of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam 2026 unfolded on Thursday evening at Mubadala Arena, as judokas from across the globe gathered to compete in one of international judo’s most significant tournaments. The evening’s lightweight competitions took place under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain Region, underscoring the emirate’s commitment to hosting sporting excellence.

Among those witnessing the opening proceedings were Mohammed bin Thaloub Al Derie, President of the UAE Judo Federation and Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee, and Marius Vizer, President of the International Judo Federation, alongside delegation heads and federation board members from competing nations. As we reported when the world’s finest judokas converged on Abu Dhabi for the 2026 Grand Slam, over 60 national teams have travelled to the emirate seeking the Olympic qualification points at stake.

The tournament programme continues into Friday with preliminary rounds and finals scheduled across the middleweight categories, featuring competitors from diverse nations. The UAE has fielded a select team to compete in the women’s under-63kg classification and the men’s under-73kg and under-81kg divisions, bringing their athletes into direct competition with internationally ranked opponents.

The opening days also marked a significant transition within the UAE judo community. Talal Shafili, a distinguished judoka whose career included bronze medals at the 2024 Tbilisi Grand Slam and the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, announced his retirement from international competition. His accomplishments across regional and international tournaments have earned recognition from the federation’s leadership. Mohammed bin Thaloub Al Derie acknowledged Shafili’s contributions to the sport and has directed that his expertise be integrated into the senior national team’s coaching staff, ensuring his knowledge continues to benefit the next generation of Emirati judokas.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam represents a pinnacle moment for the emirate’s sporting infrastructure and reputation. As the International Judo Federation recognised Abu Dhabi’s excellence as host of the 2026 Grand Slam, the tournament demonstrates the emirate’s capacity to deliver world-class sporting events that attract elite international competition and generate significant qualification opportunities for athletes worldwide.

For the UAE’s judo programme, the tournament offers both immediate competitive opportunity and longer-term benefit. By hosting such a prestigious event whilst fielding their own nationally selected athletes, the emirate strengthens its position within international judo governance and sport diplomacy. The transition of accomplished athletes like Shafili into coaching roles ensures that the knowledge and experience gained through competing at the highest levels continues to enhance the development of future champions within the nation’s sporting institutions.

Source: WAM

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