Zayed Alkatheeri
Emirati black belt Zayed Alkatheeri won the 2022 AJP World Pro and became the first Emirati to take IBJJF Pan gold in 2023.
Biography
Sources for this profile
BJJ Heroes, 'Zayed Alkatheeri', athlete biography and record.(opens in a new tab)
BJJ Heroes reports that Zayed Alkatheeri was born in Abu Dhabi on 15 March 2000.
Where in the source: Zayed Alkatheeri Biography — “born on March 15, 2000”
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BJJ Heroes dates Alkatheeri's black-belt promotion under Ribamar Santiago to 10 May 2022, five years after he began training.
Where in the source: Zayed Alkatheeri Biography — “promoted to black belt on May 10, 2022”
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AJP Tour, 'Zayed Alkatheeri shares his thoughts on being a young idol prior to the AJP UAE Nationals', 4 July 2023.(opens in a new tab)
AJP described Alkatheeri as 23 years old in an article dated 4 July 2023, which is consistent with a 2000 birth year.
Where in the source: Introduction — “At 23 years of age”
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AJP identified Alkatheeri as an Emirati Commando Group athlete under Ribamar Santiago and reported that his references included Rubens Charles 'Cobrinha'.
Where in the source: Introduction — “under the tutelage of Ribamar Santiago”
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Alkatheeri told AJP that he viewed consistent, intelligent work and continual technical, physical and mental learning as central to his development and example for younger athletes.
Where in the source: Interview — “through intelligent and consistent work”
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IBJJF, 'Zayed Alkatheeri On Becoming The First Emirati To Win Pans Gold'.(opens in a new tab)
Alkatheeri told the IBJJF that he encountered jiu-jitsu through the UAE public-school National Project in 2017 and met Ribamar Santiago after a friend's recommendation.
Where in the source: Origin answer — “public schools in 2017”
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In the same interview, Alkatheeri said Santiago taught and guided him from white belt through black belt.
Where in the source: Origin answer — “white to black belt”
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IBJJF reported that Alkatheeri won three matches to take the adult black-belt roosterweight title at the 2023 Pan Championship, the first Pan gold won by an Emirati athlete.
Where in the source: Opening — “first won by an Emirati athlete”
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Alkatheeri said he had trained with Commando Group since February 2022 in a program combining jiu-jitsu, judo and wrestling.
Where in the source: Commando answer — “Since February 2022”
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AJP Tour, 'Lucas Protasio, Gabrieli Pessanha, and Zayed Alkatheeri shine...', 19 November 2022.(opens in a new tab)
AJP reported that Alkatheeri won the 56-kilogram adult black-belt division at the 2022 Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship, becoming the first UAE athlete to win that adult title.
Where in the source: MEN'S BLACK BELT — “56KG: Zayed Alkatheeri x Nathannael Fernandes”
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IBJJF, '2024 IBJJF Worlds Black Belt Results and Recap', 5 June 2024.(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF's official 2024 World Championship results list Alkatheeri second in the adult male black-belt roosterweight division, representing Alliance.
Where in the source: ADULT MALE BLACK ROOSTER — “2 ZAYED ABDULNASER A A ALKATHEERI, Alliance”
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IBJJF, 'Athlete Results: Zayed Alkatheeri', retrieved 8 September 2026.(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF's athlete page currently lists Zayed Alkatheeri as an adult black belt affiliated with Alliance International and records his silver medal at the 2024 World Championship.
Where in the source: Athlete Results — “Alliance International” · “black” · “2nd” · “World IBJJF 2024”
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Lineage
No teaching connections are shown on this page.
Open lineage