25 BJJ Academies in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi is the city that put modern grappling on the map. ADCC was founded here in 1998 by Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Brazilian instructor Nelson Monteiro, and the tournament has run every two years since then under the banner "the Olympics of Grappling." On top of that, the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation runs the Abu Dhabi World Pro and the AJP circuit out of the city. If you're a competitor, Abu Dhabi is on your bucket list.

The training scene on the ground is more federation-driven than Dubai. Commando Group — the team that consistently tops UAEJJF medal tables — is based at Erth Abu Dhabi (the old Armed Forces Officers Club & Hotel, located at Khor Al Maqta opposite the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque), with national-team-level support. Palms Sports — established in 2011 as a jiu-jitsu training provider, located at Al Bateen Palace on Delma Street — runs a major slice of the Abu Dhabi BJJ scene and operates the ATHS-SJJP school program (BJJ instruction across grades 8–12 in 8 schools across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, reaching over 6,800 students since launch in 2015). Several other UAEJJF-accredited academies are spread across the emirate, with the federation itself based at Capital Tower.

Beyond the federation rooms, Abu Dhabi has a smaller layer of expat-style affiliate gyms — Brazilian black belts running flagship rooms for the city's working professional crowd. The mix is similar to Dubai but the city is smaller and the gym density is lower.

Practical tips: every gym is air-conditioned, and most rooms speak English. Drop-in pricing varies by gym — ask the academy directly. If you can time your trip around World Pro week (typically April), the open mats and seminars in the lead-up are some of the best training of the year. November–March is the comfortable season; July–August is brutally hot. Bring an IBJJF-legal gi if you plan to compete or roll at a federation room — they will check.