Over the past two days, IMMAF Vice President Wissam Abi Nader and I met with His Excellency Abdulmunem Al Hashmi, President of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, together with the Local Organising Committee responsible for hosting this year’s IMMAF Youth World Championships.
We had very positive and productive discussions covering preparations for the Youth World Championships, the continued development of mixed martial arts in the UAE, and the ongoing partnership between IMMAF and the UAE Federation.
The Local Organising Committee is well prepared and fully committed to welcoming the IMMAF family to Abu Dhabi. They are currently finalising preparations for the Jiu-Jitsu World Championships, which will welcome thousands of athletes from around the world next week.
During our visit, Vice President Wissam Abi Nader and I also attended UAE Warriors, which was an outstanding event, while preparations were also underway for the UFC event that took place in Abu Dhabi this past Saturday. These events demonstrate the UAE’s continued ability and commitment to successfully host major international sporting events.
Having travelled to the UAE and spent time meeting with the organisers, I can also share my own observations. Our journey was straightforward; Dubai International Airport was operating normally, hotels were busy, and from everything we have seen on the ground, daily life in Abu Dhabi continues as normal.
We recognise that some National Federations and families remain concerned because of recent regional developments and the differing information being circulated by various media outlets. Those concerns are completely understandable, and the safety and wellbeing of our young athletes, officials and families will always remain IMMAF’s highest priority.
Based on our meetings with the UAE Federation, the confidence shown by the local organisers, and our firsthand observations, preparations for the IMMAF Youth World Championships continue to progress well. The organisers are confident in their ability to deliver a safe and successful event.
I will now return home before travelling back to Abu Dhabi on 5 August to continue preparations for the Youth World Championships. In the meantime, IMMAF will continue to monitor the situation closely in partnership with the UAE Federation and the relevant authorities, and we will continue to keep all National Federations informed of any significant developments.
We look forward to welcoming the IMMAF family to Abu Dhabi and thank all National Federations for their continued trust and support.
