BJJ Academies in United Arab Emirates.

The UAE is unique on the BJJ world map: government-funded infrastructure has made jiu-jitsu a national project. The Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) was founded in 1998 by HH Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with the first ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship held in Abu Dhabi that March. The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) was established in November 2012 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP) runs the global AJP Tour — Grand Slams, Continental Pros, and the World Pro.

Abu Dhabi is the country's center of gravity. The Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship is held annually at Mubadala Arena, Zayed Sports City — the 17th edition in November 2025 drew roughly 10,000 athletes from 130+ countries. The Abu Dhabi Education Council added jiu-jitsu to public-school curriculum starting in 2008; Palms Sports (ADX:PALMS), the publicly-listed company that runs the School Jiu-Jitsu Program, reported 59,000+ students across 125 schools in 2022/23.

The academy map mirrors the federation map. In Abu Dhabi: Palms Sports / Team 777 (the federation's competition club) and Commando Group, recent Abu Dhabi World Pro and World Masters medal-table leaders. Dubai hosts the team-affiliate layer: Gracie Barra Dubai, Gracie Humaita Dubai (Al Wasl Road, Al Safa 1), Roger Gracie Academy Dubai (The Forge, Al Barsha, opened July 8, 2022), Renzo Gracie Academy Dubai, Alliance Dubai, Atos Jiu-Jitsu Dubai, and Team Nogueira Dubai.