ABU DHABI, 28th June, 2024 (WAM) — The first round of the Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship kicked off with fervour at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City on Friday. The competitions attracted top athletes from leading local clubs and academies, leading to intense competitions that lived up to the event’s hype as an exciting addition to the local sporting calendar.

The opening day included competitions across the U18, adults, and masters categories, with 700 male and female athletes from various parts of the country showcasing impressive technical skills and prowess. As the competitions on Friday came to a close, M.O.D UAE took the lead, followed by Al Wahda Jiu-Jitsu Club and Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club in second and third places, respectively.

The championship features a comprehensive ranking system to recognise athletes and clubs based on their performance and results through all rounds of the championship. This system is a motivating factor for clubs to invest optimally in talent and register the largest possible number of athletes in all categories throughout all five rounds of the championship, to gain more points and ensure strong competition for the title.

Friday’s competitions were attended by Abdulmunem Alsayed Mohammed Alhashmi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, President of the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Union, and Senior Vice President of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation; Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development; Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi; Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director-General of Tourism at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT); Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Customs; Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation; Mohamed Humaid bin Dalmuj Al Dhaheri; Youssef Abdullah Al-Batran and Mansour Al Dhaheri, Board members of the Federation, and Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, Secretary General of the UAEJJF.

Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, noted that the championship is a significant milestone in promoting and developing the jiu-jitsu sport locally and internationally. “The Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship underscores the Federation’s commitment to achieving excellence at all levels, supported by our wise leadership’s limitless support for sports, and particularly jiu-jitsu.”

“Today, we witnessed the passion, determination, and resilience of our athletes, which are the core values of jiu-jitsu. This championship marks a further step in their journey towards achieving their full potential and signifies our efforts to build a healthy, active society through sports, leaving a legacy for future generations.”

“We take pride in our Emirati athletes who continually prove the success of our strategy and programs to nurture strong generations of talented athletes. Their dedication reflects our commitment to developing talents, enhancing their potential, and contributing to shaping a bright future for our country and society under the guidance of our wise leadership.”

Igor Lacerda, a coach of Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club, said, “This championship has showcased high competitiveness among athletes today. We’ve enjoyed outstanding performances from all clubs and academies and are pleased with our team’s performance. Today’s competitions mark the start of our journey through this championship, aiming to accumulate maximum points across its five rounds and compete for its trophy.”

Ariadne Oliveira, coach of Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club, added, “This championship plays a crucial role in developing the players’ skills by allowing them to participate in its various rounds in a competitive atmosphere. The championship attracts elite athletes, making it a true test of their skills and an unparalleled opportunity for development, resulting in enthusiastic competitions throughout the year.”

Omar Alfadhli of Al Wahda Club Jiu-Jitsu Academy, who won gold in the Men Adults -69kg category, said, “Each of my competitions was tough, facing skilled opponents both technically and physically. Winning the gold medal today is a huge honour for me. I’m really excited about this achievement.”

Dana Ali Albreiki of Al Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club, who won gold in the Youth Women’s / 40kg category, said, “It’s not just about winning; competing against experienced athletes and facing new challenges was amazing. My passion for jiu-jitsu keeps pushing me forward.”

Andre Luiz De Almeida of Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club, who won gold in the Masters -85kg category, said, “I’m thrilled with this victory and the gold medal that helps our club move forward in the championship. I’m grateful to the technical and administrative staff, coaches, and teammates whose support was invaluable during these competitions.”

ABU DHABI, 28th June, 2024 (WAM) — The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has supplied its Khazanat Al Kutub initiative with a new collection of its publications to be distributed at various locations across Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, as part of the Centre’s mission to expand readers’ knowledge, promote reading as a culture and daily habit, and facilitate access to and ownership of books for all members of the community.

The initiative’s activities for the summer season and the third quarter of 2024 include seven events the Centre will be organising across the country, to reach as many readers as possible and provide visitors with the ALC’s latest publications.

The Khazanat Al Kutub stand will be available at the Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain Municipality from 27th June to 12th July 2024, offering the public more than 250 titles, alongside special publications from the Kalima Project for Translation and the Basaer (Insights) series of research papers and studies. Held for the third time at Al Ain Municipality, the event aims to promote the ALC’s publications among employees of the municipality and visitors.

Readers in the capital, Abu Dhabi, will have the opportunity to explore over 250 titles at Bawabat Al Sharq Mall from 30th June to 15th July. The titles were selected from the publications of the Kalima Project for Translation and the Basaer (Insights) series of research papers and studies. The event is held at this prominent mall as part of the Centre’s objective to diversify the locations covered by the initiative across shopping centres, which serves to promote the ALC’s new publications and enable visitors to Bawabat Al Sharq Mall to acquire them.

Khazanat Al Kutub is popular among visitors who are keen to acquire some of the titles it offers across various fields, including children’s and young adult books, travel literature, heritage, history, geography, biography, literature, arts, sports, natural sciences, social sciences, philosophy, psychology, and general knowledge. The initiative has seen growing interest on weekends from enthusiasts and readers, particularly in the field of children’s and young people’s literature.

Ajman Bank has entered into a strategic partnership with Magnati, a leading payment solutions provider, to enhance the digital payment capabilities of its corporate and business banking clients. Through this collaboration, Ajman Bank will leverage Magnati’s merchant acquiring services to offer secure payment solutions for both online and in-store payments.

With Magnati’s expertise in payment processing and Ajman Bank’s robust banking infrastructure, clients can look forward to a more streamlined and efficient payment experience.

Mr. Mustafa Al Khalfawi, CEO of Ajman Bank, said, “Our collaboration with Magnati will enable us to offer our corporate and business banking clients with state-of-the-art technology and innovative payment solutions. It aligns with Ajman Bank’s strategic vision of fostering innovation and embracing cutting-edge technologies to push boundaries of excellence. We are committed to providing top-tier banking solutions that cater to the evolving needs of businesses to thrive in an increasingly digital economy by supporting their growth and success.”

Mr. Ramana Kumar, CEO of Magnati said, “We are excited to partner with Ajman Bank to implement our advanced merchant acquiring services. Our solution is designed to offer improved experiences and increased efficiency with fast, secure and convenient payment options. With a vast network of partners and state-of-the-art platform, we ensure an efficient connection across the ecosystem.”

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About Magnati

Magnati is a regional leader in the payment solutions industry focused on direct acquiring, issuer processing and acquiring processing.

Magnati provides government, merchant and institutional clients with an intelligent payments’ platform, using next generation technology to deliver improved experiences and increased efficiency. The Magnati brand is charged with energy and potential and is set to transform payments into possibilities.

Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, Magnati’s expertise and relationships provide a platform for Magnati to attract international partners, while setting a new standard for innovation and delivery in the payments industry.

Visit www.Magnati.com  for more information.

About Ajman Bank

Ajman Bank is an Islamic bank with an ambitious vision based on values of integrity, trust and transparency seeks to provide a wide range of Sharia-compliant and high-quality banking services to customers from individuals, companies and government institutions across the UAE. It is also keen to be updated with the latest technology that will ensure customers a distinctive experimental banking with the revival of human touch that is lost in the modern era of banking application.

Ajman Bank is headquartered in Ajman and enjoys the strong support of the Government of Ajman and is a key pillar in the emirate’s economic development strategy. The bank continues its tireless efforts to establish a prominent position in the banking sector as a sustainable Islamic banking institution, with an emphasis on the need to achieve an optimal balance in the community and caring staff, in order to provide real value for shareholders and customers alike. For more information visit http://www.ajmanbank.ae

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