Abu Dhabi, UAE – July 31, 2026
Preparations are in full swing for the UAE Pro League Awards Ceremony for the 2025–26 season, which will take place on August 10 at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Abu Dhabi. The annual gala will celebrate the standout performers of UAE football, recognizing the players, coaches, and clubs whose exceptional achievements defined the season.
As the official curtain-closer to the domestic football campaign, the ceremony is expected to bring together the UAE’s football elite, club representatives, strategic partners, broadcasters, local and regional media, and journalists for an evening dedicated to honoring excellence across the professional game.
The ceremony will feature the announcement of the winners in the Voting Awards category, including the Golden Ball Award for Best Player, the Golden Glove Award for Best Goalkeeper, the Leader Award for Best Coach, the Golden Boy Award for Best U-23 Player, as well as the Fans’ Player of the Season Award and the Fans’ Goal of the Season Award.
The UAE Pro League recently unveiled the nominees for the voting-based awards and opened public voting from July 27 to August 1 through its official website and smart applications. The voting process includes club captains, head coaches, media representatives, and fans, with the winners to be officially revealed and honored during the awards ceremony on August 10.
Golden Ball – Best Player Nominees
The race for the Golden Ball features:
- Matías Palacios
- Kodjo Laba
- Rami Rabia
- Alejandro Romero
- Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain)
- Nicolás Giménez (Al Wasl)
- Yuri César
- Guilherme Bala (Shabab Al Ahli)
- Omar Khribin (Al Wahda)
- Tarik Tissoudali (Khor Fakkan)
Golden Glove – Best Goalkeeper Nominees
Competing for the Golden Glove Award are:
- Khalid Eisa (Al Ain)
- Hamad Al Maqbali (Shabab Al Ahli)
- Ali Al Hosani (Ajman)
- Ali Khaseif (Al Jazira)
- Zayed Ahmed (Al Wahda)
Leader Award – Best Coach Nominees
The nominees for Best Coach are:
- Vladimir Ivić (Al Ain)
- Goran Tufegdžić (Ajman)
- Rui Vitória (Al Wasl)
- Marino Pušić (Al Jazira)
- Paulo Sousa (Shabab Al Ahli)
Golden Boy – Best U-23 Player Nominees
The Golden Boy Award shortlist includes:
- Abdulkarim Traore
- Al Hussein Rahimi (Al Ain)
- Vinicius Melo
- Mamadou Coulibaly (Al Jazira)
- Renan Victor
- Mohammed Al Mansoori
- Kon Santos (Shabab Al Ahli)
- Abdullah Touré (Al Nasr)
The ceremony will also announce the winners of the Fans’ Player of the Season and Fans’ Goal of the Season awards.
Statistics-Based Awards
In addition to the voting awards, the event will recognize winners in the Statistics Awards category, including:
- Golden Boot – ADNOC Pro League Top Scorer: Kodjo Laba (Al Ain)
- Golden Boot – ADIB Cup Top Scorer: Abdullah Touré (Al Nasr)
- Silver Boot – U-23 League Top Scorer: Ali Al Maamari
The ceremony will also unveil the Team of the Season, featuring the best eleven players from the 2025–26 campaign.
Standards Awards
The evening will further celebrate excellence beyond on-field performances by recognizing winners in the Standards Awards category, including the Best Fan Attendance Award and the Club Licensing & Professionalism Award, honoring clubs that have excelled in organizational, administrative, and operational excellence, alongside recognition of outstanding individual and collective achievements throughout the season.
The UAE Pro League Awards Ceremony has become one of the flagship annual events on the UAE football calendar, reflecting the League’s commitment to recognizing excellence, celebrating outstanding achievements, and fostering a culture of competitiveness, innovation, and continuous development that strengthens the profile of Emirati football both regionally and across Asia.
