Kelmendi has not fought since 2017 with the two-time world champion having had to recover from injury.

She will be the headline name in the women's under-52 kilogram division in Abu Dhabi, with her form after a long absence sure to come under scrutiny.

Kelmendi will be one of three Olympic champions competing at the event, with Argentina's Paula Pareto featuring in the women's under 48kg event.

Czech Republic's Lukas Krpalek will hope to claim victory in the men's over 100kg competition in the United Arab Emirates city.

The competition will begin tomorrow, with three days of action scheduled to take place at the Mubadala Arena.

The Grand Slam coincides with World Judo Day, which is held on October 28.

The date marks the birthday of Jigaro Kano, judo's founder.

Friendship has been chosen as the theme of this year's World Judo Day.

The Grand Slam event had been in doubt earlier this year, after the competition was suspended by the IJF, along with Tunis Grand Prix.

The governing body made the decision due to the treatment of Israeli athletes.

The IJF said the Governments of the UAE and Tunisia needed to provide "written guarantees" that Israel would be allowed to compete free of discrimination.

An official letter was received from the UAE, leading to the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam being restored.

The suspension had followed organisers in Abu Dhabi refusing to raise the Israeli flag or play their national anthem when Tal Flicker won men's under-66kg gold at the Grand Slam last year.

Watch the action on Judo TV.