The UAE Pro League celebrated the stars of the 2024–2025 season in a spectacular and elegant awards ceremony held on Saturday evening at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi. The event was attended by His Excellency Abdulla Naser Al Jneibi, Chairman of the UAE Pro League, members of the League’s Board of Directors, strategic partners and sponsors, club representatives, award nominees, and a distinguished group of sports and media personalities.
The evening commenced with a welcoming speech by H.E. Abdulla Al Jneibi, who expressed his appreciation for the esteemed guests and emphasized the significance of the annual awards ceremony as a key moment in the professional football calendar. He highlighted the event’s role in inspiring excellence and innovation in Emirati football, which continues to thrive under the support of the nation’s wise leadership.
During the ceremony, Al Jneibi revealed that the marketing value of UAE Pro League competitions has reached AED 2.6 billion, with television broadcasts garnering 44 million views and social media platforms achieving a staggering 730 million views—figures that reflect the League’s growing influence and the tireless efforts of its teams.
He also praised the strategic partners and media outlets for their vital contributions to the League’s success, commending the unity and dedication of professional clubs and their loyal fans throughout the season.
The glamorous event, hosted by media personalities Mohammed Al Houti and Nada Al Shaibani, featured captivating performances and a musical showcase celebrating the UAE’s cultural diversity and spirit of coexistence.
A heartfelt tribute was paid to veteran broadcaster Mohammed Najeeb for his lifelong contributions to Emirati sports media. The League also honored its key sponsors for their unwavering support, including ADNOC, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Emaar, Presidential Initiatives, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Emirates Airlines, MBME, Etihad Rail, Salem Al Shuaibi Jewelry, Rasasi Perfumes, McDonald’s, TikTok, Al Nabooda Automobiles, AvaTrade, Rixos Hotels, Nike, and the broadcasting networks Abu Dhabi Sports, Dubai Sports, and Sharjah Sports.
🏆 Awards and Winners
The ceremony unveiled the winners across three categories: statistics-based awards, fan-voted awards, and criteria-based awards.
- Golden Ball – Best Player: Sardar Azmoun (Shabab Al Ahli), ahead of Mehdi Ghaedi (Khorfakkan) and Caio Lucas (Sharjah)
- Golden Glove – Best Goalkeeper: Hamad Al Maqbali (Shabab Al Ahli), surpassing Ali Khaseif (Al Jazira) and Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah)
- Best Coach: Paulo Sousa (Shabab Al Ahli), ahead of Milos Milojevic (Al Wasl) and Cosmin Olăroiu (Sharjah)
- Golden Boy – Best U23 Player: Guilherme da Silva (Shabab Al Ahli), beating Siaka Sidibe (Al Wasl) and Brahima Diarra (Al Wahda)
- Best Goal: Nabil Fekir (Al Jazira), winning over Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain) and Omar Khribin (Al Wahda)
- Fan Favorite Player: Mohamed Elneny (Al Jazira), chosen over Lucas Pimenta (Al Wahda) and Fabio Lima (Al Wasl)
📊 Statistics-Based Awards - Golden Boot – ADNOC Pro League Top Scorer: Kodjo Laba (Al Ain) – 20 goals
- Golden Boot – Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Cup Top Scorer: Ramón Miraz (Al Jazira) – 5 goals
- Silver Boot – U23 League Top Scorer: Mansour Al Menhali (Al Wahda)
🎖️ Club and Fantasy Awards - Best Fan Attendance: Al Ain Club
- Professionalism & Licensing Excellence: Al Jazira Club
- Fantasy League Best Manager: Omar Al Obaidli
🌟 Dream Team of the Season - Goalkeeper: Hamad Al Maqbali (Shabab Al Ahli)
- Defenders: Marcos Meloni (Sharjah), Mohamed Elneny (Al Jazira), Lucas Pimenta (Al Wahda), Ali Saleh (Al Wasl)
- Midfielders: Mehdi Ghaedi (Khorfakkan), Caio Lucas (Sharjah), Fabio Lima (Al Wasl)
- Forwards: Sardar Azmoun (Shabab Al Ahli), Kodjo Laba (Al Ain), Guilherme da Silva (Shabab Al Ahli)
🎉 Interactive Experiences & Media Engagement
Guests enjoyed a variety of engaging activities, including sponsor showcases, a virtual reality zone offering immersive match experiences, a coin engraving station, and a high-tech photo booth featuring club landmarks. The UAE Pro League Café served as a networking hub for attendees.
A live English-language podcast hosted by Omar Al Douri and Essa Santo was streamed on the League’s YouTube and TikTok channels, featuring interviews with football stars. Live radio coverage was also provided by Al Arabiya 99 and Dubai 92 FM.
The League honored Emirati artists Aryam and Mohammed Al Menhali for their continued support and participation in League events. Media outlets and digital platforms were also recognized for their outstanding coverage throughout the season.
