Abu Dhabi, August 4, 2026
The UAE Pro League has unveiled the final shortlists for its 2025–26 Season Awards, with the winners set to be announced during the annual awards ceremony at 7:15 p.m. on Monday, August 10, at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi.
The shortlist for the Golden Ball Award for Best Player is dominated by Al Ain, with Matías Palacios, Kodjo Laba, and Soufiane Rahimi all earning nominations.
For the Best Coach (The Leader Award), the nominees are Paulo Sousa (Shabab Al Ahli), Vladimir Ivić (Al Ain), and Goran Tufegdžić (Ajman).
The Golden Glove Award for Best Goalkeeper will be contested by Khalid Eisa (Al Ain), Zayed Ahmed (Al Wahda), and Hamad Al Maqbali (Shabab Al Ahli).
In the Golden Boy Award category for the Best U-23 Player, Al Ain duo Abdel Karim Traoré and Al Hussein Rahimi are shortlisted alongside Abdullah Touré of Al Nasr.
The finalists for the Fans’ Player of the Season Award are Nicolás Giménez (Al Wasl), Ramy Rabia (Al Ain), and Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain).
Meanwhile, the nominees for the Goal of the Season Award are Al Hussein Rahimi (Al Ain), Alejandro Romero (Al Ain), and Sergio Pereira (Al Wasl).
In the Criteria Awards category, Al Wasl, Al Nasr, and Al Ain have been shortlisted for the Club Licensing and Professionalism Award, while Bani Yas, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra will compete for the Best Fan Attendance Award.
The ceremony will also honor the winners of the season’s Statistical Awards, including the Golden Boot for the ADNOC Pro League’s top scorer, which has already been secured by Kodjo Laba of Al Ain with 25 goals.
The Golden Boot for the ADIB Cup top scorer has been awarded to Abdullah Touré of Al Nasr after scoring four goals, while Ali Al Maamari of Al Jazira claimed the Silver Boot as the leading scorer in the U-23 League with 17 goals.
The event will also feature the unveiling of the Team of the Season, recognizing the best eleven players of the 2025–26 campaign.
