UAE Pro League Awards 2025–26 shortlists revealed ahead of August 10 ceremony
Shortlists for the UAE Pro League Awards 2025–26 unveiled; ceremony will be held at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi on August 10, 2026. Details.
Strong opening: shortlists announced for UAE Pro League Awards 2025–26
The UAE Pro League Awards 2025–26 shortlists were announced by the UAE Pro League on Tuesday, setting the stage for the awards ceremony on Monday, August 10, 2026 at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi. The shortlist release highlights nominees across player, coach, goalkeeper, young talent and club categories and confirms several Al Ain players as front-runners. Fans and clubs will await the official winners to be revealed during the evening event.
Ceremony date and venue confirmed
The awards ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7:15pm on August 10, 2026 at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi. Organizers said the event will celebrate achievements from the 2025–26 season and include presentations for statistical, technical and fan-voted awards. Delegations from clubs across the Pro League are expected to attend as finalists and winners are announced.
Golden Ball and leading player nominees
The shortlist for the Golden Ball — the league’s player of the season award — features three Al Ain forwards: Matias Blasios, Kodjo Laba and Sofiane Rahimi. Those names reflect a season in which Al Ain’s attack was dominant in several matches, and the nomination list underscores the club’s influence on the outcome of the award. The presence of multiple team-mates on the shortlist will focus attention on which individual performance stood out most to voters and experts.
Coaches and goalkeeper races attract top contenders
The Best Coach shortlist includes Paulo Sousa of Shabab Al Ahli, Vladimir Ivic of Al Ain and Goran Tufegdzic of Ajman, highlighting tactical impact across different clubs. In the Golden Glove category, finalists are Khaled Issa (Al Ain), Zayed Ahmed (Al Wahda) and Hamad Al Maqbali (Shabab Al Ahli), each recognised for consistency and match-defining saves. These nominations reflect both team success and individual contributions between the posts and from the dugout.
Young talent and fan choice categories
The Golden Boy award for the best player under 23 features Al Ain duo Abdelkarim Traore and Al Hussein Rahimi alongside Abdullah Touré of Al Nasr. The Fan’s Best Player shortlist includes Nicolas Gimenez (Al Wasl), Rami Rabia (Al Ain) and Sofiane Rahimi (Al Ain), giving supporters a direct voice in one of the evening’s headline prizes. These categories spotlight rising stars and the players who connected most with spectators during the 2025–26 season.
Best goals, club licensing and attendance nominees
Contenders for the Best Goal include Al Hussein Rahimi and Alejandro Romero of Al Ain and Sergio Pereira of Al Wasl, representing a mix of spectacular finishes and technical flair. For the Club Licensing and Professionalism award the shortlisted clubs are Al Wasl, Al Nasr and Al Ain, while the Attendance award nominees are Baniyas, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. These selections recognise off-field standards, fan engagement and stadium appeal as part of the league’s development agenda.
Statistical awards and Team of the Season reveal
Statistical prizes will be presented on the night, with Kodjo Laba already confirmed as the Pro League Golden Boot winner after netting 25 goals for Al Ain. Abdullah Touré claimed the League Cup Golden Boot with four goals, and Ali Al Maamari of Al Jazira secured the Silver Boot for the under-23 top scorer with 17 goals. Organizers also plan to announce the Team of the Season — the best XI across positions — drawing on statistical performance and expert selection.
What to expect during the awards ceremony
The ceremony is expected to combine formal presentations with video highlights and speeches from league officials and club representatives. Awards will be handed out across multiple categories, including technical, statistical and fan-driven prizes, and the evening will conclude with the crowning of major winners such as Player of the Season and Coach of the Year. Media and stakeholders will monitor reactions and potential implications for transfer market activity and next season’s expectations.
The UAE Pro League Awards 2025–26 shortlist release sets clear narratives ahead of the August 10 ceremony in Abu Dhabi, with Al Ain prominently represented among nominations and statistical leaders such as Kodjo Laba already confirmed among the season’s top performers.