The UAE national football team: history and highlights
Football is a popular sport in the UAE. There is certainly support for big European clubs, but the local football fan culture is also deep-rooted. While locals have allegiances divided when it comes to club football, the UAE National football team has undivided support. UAE Football Association oversees the sport in the country and the team has steadily improved in recent years. Let’s look at the past, the present and possible future of the UAE football team.
ALL ABOUT THE UAE NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM
Both men and women United Arab Emirates National football team players enjoy a hero’s status in the country. UAE football team FIFA ranking is currently 67 for the men’s team and 112 for women. The men’s team is coached by Portuguese trainer Paulo Bento. Whereas, the women’s team is coached by Brazilian Camila Orlando.
The highest rank the team has achieved was 42 in the late 90s. However, it slipped to below 130s in the early 2010s. Investment into football led to improved performances and a steady growth has seen the team reach its current ranking.
HISTORY
As discussed, football in the UAE is under the supervision of UAE Football Association (UAEFA). It was formed in 1971 and joined FIFA the next year. It became a member of the Arab and Asian confederations in the year 1974. The current President of the UAEFA is His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and Abdullah Nasser Al Jneibi serves as the Vice President.
The UAE National football team achievements are impressive. The team has qualified for a World Cup, appearing in the 1990 edition held in Italy. While the team couldn’t claim any wins as the group’s underdogs, their competitive showing earned respect for the country.
The team has also won two Gulf Cups in 2007 and 2013. The UAE National football team bagged a silver medal at the 16th Asian Games in China and qualified for the 2012 London Games.
The youth national team has had even more success, winning the AFC U-19 Cup in 2008. U-20 team qualified for the Youth World Championship in 1997 in Malaysia and 2009 in Egypt. Early 90s could be considered the golden period of UAE football. The senior team’s qualification in the 1990’s World Cup inspired the U-17 national team, which made it to the 1991 World Cup. The junior team also has the honour of winning the Gulf Cup in 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2013.
The women’s team has won the West Asian Women Championship title twice in 2010 and 2011.
UAE NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM PLAYERS
Here is the list of current UAE National Football Team squad along with the clubs they play for.
- Ali Khaseif (Al Jazira)
- Abdulla Hamad (Al Wahda)
- Abdullah Idrees (Al Jazira)
- Ahmed Abdulla Jamil (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai)
- Ali Hassan Salmin (Al Wasl)
- Ali Saleh (Al Wasl)
- Bader Nasser Abaelaziz (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai)
- Caio Canedo (Al Wasl)
- Fabio De Lima (Al Wasl)
- Harib Abdulla Suhail (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai)
- Hazim Abbas (Al Ain)
- Khalif Al Hammadi (Al Jazira)
- Khaled Aldhanhani (Sharjah)
- Khaled Tawhid (Sharjah)
- Khalid Eissa (Al Ain)
- Khalid Al Hashmi (Al Ain)
- Majid Rashid (Sharjah)
- Mohamed Al Attas (Al Jazira)
- Mohamed Abbas (Al Ain)
- Sultan Adil (Ittihad Kalba)
- Tahnoon Alzaabi (Al Wahda)
- Yahya Nader (Al Ain)
- Yahya Ali Al Ghassani (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai)
- Zayed Al Amiri (Al Jazira)
- Zayed Al Zaabi (Al Jazira)
- Issam Faiz (Ajman)
TRAINING COURSES
Looking towards the future, the UAEFA organises these training course:
- AFC C Diploma
- Online Grassroots D Course + Children Safeguarding
- AFC B Diploma
- AFC Futsal GK Level 1 Course
- AFC A Diploma
- AFC Pro Diploma Certificate
- AFC Goalkeeping Level 1 Course
- AFC Goalkeeping Level 2 Course
- AFC Goalkeeping Level 3 Course
- AFC Futsal Level 1
- AFC Futsal Level 2
- AFC Futsal Level 3
- AFC Fitness Courses Level 1A
- AFC Futsal GK L1 Course
- AFC Fitness Course Level 1B
- AFC Fitness Course Level 2A
- AFC Fitness Course Level 2B
- AFC B Goalkeeping Diploma
- UAE FA Grassroots Diploma
A Technical Centre has been developed with FIFA’s forward funding. This allows technical programmes and coaching sessions for men’s, women’s and junior teams to operate at night thanks to the floodlights.
UAE FOOTBALL TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY
To provide the best conditions for the UAE National football team to succeed, a UAE football transformation strategy was announced in 2020. It has six pillars.
NATIONAL TEAMS AND PATHWAYS
- Establish national training centres to develop talents.
- Set up a national plan to develop youth and a system to follow-up the academies.
- Develop a pool of qualified coaches
- Transform the sport performance support system through technical centres and performance analysis
- Develop new structures of age groups competitions and tournaments
- Introduce scholarship programmes for players to develop their skills and enhance their experiences
PARTICIPATION
- Introduce a training programme for football practitioners to support the game at the community
- Start a programme for groups aged 5 to 11 years
- Improve player registration processes
- Develop an accreditation programme for academies, clubs, events and community leagues
THE PROFESSIONAL GAME
- Sign comprehensive agreement with the UAE PL
- Focus on the development of the clubs’ work and sustainability
- Conduct feasibility study for privatisation of the football clubs
- Strengthens the regulations of professional players
- Enhance the licencing process for competitions and tournaments
- Expand the competitions pyramid
- Start a new association for professional players
- Improve referees and increase their pool
COMMERCIAL AND FAN ENGAGEMENT
- Start high quality partnerships and attract the sponsors
- Increase the use of UAEFA facilities and enhance revenues streams
- Promote spectators’ attendance during national teams and club matches
- Enhance spectator interaction through questionnaires and other means
- Launch membership programme for children
- Increase number of outlets at national level
GLOBAL PROMINENCE
- Host football conferences
- Increase number of UAE representatives at FIFA and AFC committees
- Build international partnerships with regional federations, confederations and FIFA.
GROWTH AREAS: WOMEN’S FOOTBALL, BEACH SOCCER AND FUTSAL
- Provide support to develop women’s football
- Develop transformation strategy for women’s football
- Develop beach soccer league
- Develop futsal programmes
For each area, clear plans and goals have been laid out with deadlines. While some milestones and KPIs have been achieved, work is ongoing to achieve new heights.
FAQS
WHAT IS THE CURRENT FIFA RANKING OF THE UAE NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM?
UAE National Football Team is currently ranked 67th.
HAS THE UAE NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM QUALIFIED FOR THE WORLD CUP?
Yes, the UAE has qualified for the World Cup in 1990.
WHICH ARE THE MOST POPULAR FOOTBALL TOURNAMENTS HELD IN THE UAE?
Here is a list of UAE’s most popular football tournaments. Many of the UAE National football team players compete in the home leagues and tournaments.
WHERE CAN I PLAY FOOTBALL IN DUBAI?
You can hire football pitches in Dubai to play friendly matches.
WHICH ARE THE TOP ACADEMIES OFFERING FOOTBALL COACHING FOR KIDS IN DUBAI?
The top football academies in Dubai include Elite Football Academy and Barqa Academy to name a few.
This concludes our look at the past, present and future of the UAE National football team. The UAE has hosted many global tournaments and major stars have played in the league. The UAE National Football Team squad has shown great potential and you can expect the group to improve.
As the grassroots investment starts to pay dividends, you can expect the National team to be more prominent on a global scale.
