Black belt Faisal Al Ketbi will lead the UAE challenge when the Dubai Jiu-Jitsu Open Championship begins on Friday.

Al Ketbi, who moved up from brown belt in May, will join 118 other Emiratis in the No Gi and Gi categories.

Jiu-Jitsu fighters from Brazil, Jordan, Syria and the US will swell the number of hopefuls to an impressive 335 for the two-day event at Al Wasl Sports Club.

The competition was staged as the Asia Jiu-Jitsu Open Cup last year and Mohammad Al Dhaheri, board member of UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), said popularising the sport beyond its Abu Dhabi stronghold is a key objective for this season.

Al Dhaheri said: “Last year's Asia Jiu-Jitsu competition was the first UAEJJF event staged outside Abu Dhabi and we are very pleased to elevate this competition to an Open contest.”

“We at the federation are striving hard to improve the quality of the competitions, increase participation and draw a new audience to the sport in all Emirates."

He added: "Jiu-Jitsu has grown remarkably well over the past few years and is still growing. 

“Our vision is to take the sport to the highest point within the country and internationally. We have a long way to go to achieve this objective but we are on the path”

The competition begins at 14:00 on Friday, while Saturday’s action starts at 11:00.