Iran's national judo team has lost the chance to take part in the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam because the United Arab Emirates did not grant its members visas. The Iranian judokas were due to step onto the tatami at the competition on 29 and 30 October 2026 and had completed registration and the necessary arrangements, but their trip was cancelled.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam is one of the major events on the world judo calendar, and its points count towards the world ranking and the path to Olympic qualification. As a result, athletes who have trained for years for these contests are paying the price for the Islamic Republic's policies.
The Islamic Republic's isolation in sport
This is not the first case. Kuwait earlier refused visas to members of Iran's national padel team. Tractor of Tabriz also faced restrictions on Iranian aircraft and heavy travel costs for its AFC Champions League Elite match against Al Ain of the UAE, and finally flew directly from Tabriz to Dubai on Sunday 25 October to play on Monday. Restrictions on flights by Iranian aircraft have made it harder for Iran's representatives to take part in Asian competitions.
These restrictions come as the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, including the UAE, have repeatedly been threatened and attacked by the Islamic Republic and its proxy groups in recent months, and an oil spill and insecurity for shipping have also hit the UAE's coast. At the same time, Iran's land routes to the world have narrowed, and Iraq, Turkey and Pakistan have restricted the passage of goods across Iran's borders.
Like the rest of the country, Iranian athletes are paying for the isolation the Islamic Republic has imposed on Iran.
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