The capital, Abu Dhabi, is witnessing a packed schedule of local and international sports events throughout February. Leading the events are the UAE Tour, the Abu Dhabi Open tennis tournament for women (a WTA 500 event), the inaugural "Hero" Abu Dhabi mountain biking race, the 33rd Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, and the UAE National Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Specifically, the UAE National Jiu-Jitsu Championship kicks off today, Friday, marking the first tournament of the new sports season organized by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, with significant participation from various clubs and academies, both locally and internationally, across categories including youth, teenagers, amateurs, professionals, and masters. The registered participants number 1,500 players from 50 countries, including the UAE, Colombia, and Brazil.
Tomorrow, Saturday, the International Tennis Complex in Zayed Sports City will host the second edition of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open for women with a WTA 500 point designation, featuring a selection of the top 20 ranked players globally, including Tunisia's Ons Jabeur, Japan's Naomi Osaka, Brazil's Beatriz Haddad, and Britain's Emma Raducanu. The tournament will run until the 11th of this month.
Additionally, the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club is organizing the UAE Jet Ski and Flyboard Championships on the Abu Dhabi Corniche tomorrow as part of the Abu Dhabi Marine Festival. There will also be the Athletics Federation Championship on the Military Sports Division's grounds, with extensive participation from various clubs across all categories and ages.
On February 9, the first edition of the "Hero" Abu Dhabi Marathon for mountain biking begins on Hudayriyat Island and will continue until the 11th. This event is notable on the international sports calendar, especially as both the Olympic and short-distance cross-country races will qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
From February 8 to 11, the second edition of the UAE Tour for women will take place across four stages, covering a distance of 468 km, with participation from 13 global teams and 7 continental teams. This will be followed by the sixth edition of the UAE Tour for men, set to run from February 19 to 25, covering 980 km across four flat stages, two mountain stages, and a 12.1 km time trial, featuring elite cyclists and global teams.
Moreover, the 33rd Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge will be held from February 25 to March 2, as the current edition is the third in the World Long Rally Championship (W2RC), with Abu Dhabi serving as the second round of the world series after the Dakar Rally.
On February 17, the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club will host the President's Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses (Grade 1) over a distance of 2,200 meters in its 31st edition, featuring over 100 horses competing in 7 races across various categories and distances, showcasing one of the largest gatherings for purebred Arabian horse racing at the Abu Dhabi racetrack.
The Emirate Global Village for Endurance in Al Wathba is organizing the President's Cup for Endurance over a distance of 160 km in its 25th edition on February 11, as well as the President's Cup for Show Jumping and the Nations Cup from February 8 to 11.
