Abu Dhabi World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship: All you need to know

A break down of everything from when, where and who to watch out for.

• What: From April 15 to 24, more than 6,000 competitors will gather for the Abu Dhabi Festival for Kids, the inaugural Abu Dhabi World Youth Cup, the eighth Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship and the inaugural Legends tournament.

• When: April 15 to 24.

• Where: Ipic Arena at Zayed Sports City

• Tickets: Entrance is free and the entry ticket gives the holder a place in a daily raffle draw for prizes that include a Jaguar XF car.

• On TV: Follow the action live on Abu Dhabi Sports Channel.

• What's going on here? The first four days will see action from the Abu Dhabi Festival for Kids and Abu Dhabi World Youth Cup followed by the eighth staging of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Championships in the next five days. The organisers have also included a new event for the Legends on the final day. There will be a fan zone that will provide family entertainment and other activities.

• Will we see the big stars? The best in the world in both the men's and women's categories will be heading to Abu Dhabi for this tournament and a slice of the Dh2.5 million prize money.

• Format: Single elimination competition with the winner declared by either submission, points or by referee's decision.

Stars to watch

• Marcus Almeida: The three-time champion of the absolute division is returning to defend the title. The Brazilian won double gold the past two years in Abu Dhabi in the 100kg weight and absolute class.

• Rodolfo Veira: The Brazilian was runner-up twice here, in 2013 and 2014, to Almeida in the absolute class after winning the open weight division in 2011 and 2012. He was a last-minute withdrawal last year because of injury.

• Faisal Al Ketbi: The Emirati is a second-year black belt. He returns to the Abu Dhabi event having won a silver at the Grand Slam London and two golds at the West Asian Championships in his last two competitions.

• Mackenzie Dern: The little American stunned women's champion Gabrielle Garcia to end her unbeaten run in the Abu Dhabi World Pro. The Brazilian has since moved to MMA and will not participate in this year's championship.

• Luanna Alzuguir: The Brazilian won the Abu Dhabi World Championship in 2009 and 2010, and then went on to claim all major championships in these two years. She is now based in Abu Dhabi and will be a leading contender for the open class in the absence of Garcia.

sports@thenational.ae

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COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Kumulus Water

Started: 2021

Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid

Based: Tunisia

Sector: Water technology

Number of staff: 22

Investment raised: $4 million

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Ruwais timeline

1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established

1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants

1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed

1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.

1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex

2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea

2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd

2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens

2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies

2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export

2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.

2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery

2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital

2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13

Source: The National

Tomorrow 2021

Crown Prince reveals Tomorrow 2021 plan for Abu Dhabi's economy

Tomorrow 2021: Abu Dhabi business leaders predict stronger 2019

The UAE explained: What are the new plans for the economy and why do we need them?

Abu Dhabi's plans to liberalise the economy are progressing fast - but how are other countries planning for post-oil?

UAE-wide visa changes: Expats imagine life after work in the UAE

While you're here

Aya Iskandarani: Why Hezbollah’s man in Iraq is now worth $10 million to the US

Khaled Yacoub Oweis: Hezbollah bids to control Lebanon’s financial system

National Editorial: Hezbollah's murky dealings in Iraq have been unveiled

Key facilities

Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

If you go...

Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.

Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50

if you go

The flights

Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.

The hotel

Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.

The tour

Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg

Qosty Byogaani

Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny

Four stars

How to get there

Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.