Shabab Al Ahli Dubai is a prominent football institution from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, founded in 1958 and shaped by the city’s historic club culture. The modern organisation carries the legacy of a 2017 merger involving Al Ahli, Al Shabab and Dubai CSC. Known as the Red Knights, it is associated with red, green, white and gold, and has traditional links to Rashid Stadium, Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium and Al Aweer Stadium. Its sporting profile spans leading Emirati competition and the Asian stage.
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Upcoming matches by league
AFC Champions League
-
- Group Stage
Al-Ittihad FCNo H2HShabab Al Ahli Dubai
-
- Group Stage
Shabab Al Ahli DubaiNo H2HEsteghlal FC
-
- Group Stage
Al-Hilal Saudi FCNo H2HShabab Al Ahli Dubai
League Cup
-
- Group Stage - 1
Hatta SC
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
-
- Group Stage - 2
Shabab Al Ahli DubaiNo H2HAl Nasr
-
- Group Stage - 3
Shabab Al Ahli DubaiNo H2HDubai United
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Last matches by league
AFC Champions League
League Cup
Pro League
Friendlies Clubs
Presidents Cup
Qatar-UAE Super Cup
Super Cup
AFC Cup
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Team Roster
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai’s recorded squad contains 35 players: 11 midfielders, 10 defenders, nine attackers and five goalkeepers. The list includes Walid Abbas, Yahya Al Ghassani, Sultan Adil, S. Azmoun, F. Cartabia, N. Maksimović and Bogdan Planić. Goalkeeping options are Rakaan Waleed, Hassan Hamza, Khaled Al Senaani, H. Al Meqebaali and R. Maqdami. The defence features Jorge Fernandes, Kaiky, Renan and Rikelme, while the midfield group includes E. Irala, Kauan Santos and Yuri César. Several entries use initials, matching the presentation used throughout the current roster listing.
position Goalkeeper
Rakaan Waleed Saleh Mubarak Al Menhali
Hassan Hamza Ali Hussain Almaazmi
Khaled Saif Hamad Ali Al Senaani
Hamad Abdulla Mohamed Salem Al Meqebaali
Matheus Planelles Donelli
position Defender
Igor Gomes Silva
Bogdan Planić
Walid Abbas Murad Yousuf Al Balooshi
Renan Victor da Silva
Kaiky Fernandes Melo
Rikelme
Mersad Seifi
Jorge Filipe Oliveira Fernandes
Bader Nasser Abaelaziz Mohammad
Mateus Henrique Alves Silva
position Midfielder
Henrique Benko
Elián Mateo Irala
Saeed Ezatolahi Afagh
Mohammed Juma Abdulla Darwish Al Mansouri
Federico Nicolás Cartabia
Yahya Ali Said Al Ghassani
Sergio Damián García Graña
Jahnoah Guevara Markelo
Eid Khamis Eid Khamis Alnuaimi
Oumar Keita
Kauan Santos Silva
Yuri César Santos de Oliveira Silva
Breno Cascardo Lemos
Nemanja Maksimović
position Attacker
Reza Ghandipour
Mateus Dias Lima
Sardar Azmoun
Sultan Adil Mohamed Abdalla Al Ameeri
Thiago
Guilherme da Silva Gonçalves
João Marcelo Soares de Freitas
Last Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Coachs
Paulo Sousa has been Shabab Al Ahli Dubai’s recorded head coach since 1 July 2024 and remains the current coach. The Portuguese manager followed M. Nikolić, whose tenure ran from July 2023 to May 2024. Earlier entries show Leonardo Jardim from June 2022 to June 2023, Mahdi Ali from December 2020 to June 2022 and Gerard Zaragoza from March to December 2020. The chronology reflects a succession of international and Emirati coaching appointments.
Paulo Manuel Carvalho de Sousa
History
| Coach | Coach country | Coach since | Coach until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paulo Manuel Carvalho de Sousa | Portugal | 1 July 2024 | |
| Marko Nikolić | Serbia | 1 July 2023 | 1 May 2024 |
| José Leonardo Nunes Alves Sousa Jardim | Venezuela | 1 June 2022 | 1 June 2023 |
| Mahdi Ali Hassan Redha | United Arab Emirates | 1 December 2020 | 1 June 2022 |
| Gerard Zaragoza Mulet | Spain | 1 March 2020 | 1 December 2020 |
| Rodolfo Martín Arruabarrena | Argentina | 1 October 2018 | 1 March 2020 |
| Jose Luis Sierra Pando | Chile | 1 July 2018 | 1 October 2018 |
| Jose Luis Sierra Pando | Chile | 1 July 2018 | 1 October 2018 |
| Mahdi Ali Hassan Redha | United Arab Emirates | 1 December 2017 | 1 June 2018 |
| Aurelian Cosmin Olăroiu | Romania | 1 February 2015 | 1 December 2017 |
| Mirel Matei Rădoi | Romania | 1 October 2014 | 1 November 2014 |
| Aurelian Cosmin Olăroiu | Romania | 1 July 2013 | 1 December 2014 |
| Enrique Sánchez Flores | Spain | 1 November 2011 | 1 July 2013 |
| Paulo Afonso Bonamigo | Brazil | 1 September 2011 | 1 January 2012 |
| Ivan Hašek | Czechia | 1 June 2011 | 1 November 2011 |
| Henk ten Cate | Netherlands | 1 February 2010 | 1 March 2010 |
| Mahdi Ali Hassan Redha | United Arab Emirates | 1 December 2009 | 1 December 2009 |
| Ioan Andone | Romania | 8 June 2009 | 2 November 2009 |
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Transfers
Recorded arrivals show a mixture of permanent moves, free-agent additions, loans and returns from temporary spells. J. Markelo arrived from Coventry in a transfer on 6 August 2026, while Jorge Fernandes and Khaled Al Senaani joined as free agents from Al-Fateh and Al-Wasl FC in July and June. João Marcelo came from Atletico-MG on loan in December 2025. The recent list also includes returning loanees such as Marwan Fahad, R. Ghandipour, M. Dabbur and Oumar Keita, alongside transfers involving Kaiky, E. Irala, N. Maksimović and Thiago. These selected movements describe activity without representing a complete arrivals total.
Latest player transfers from
| Player | Team from | Transfer type | Transfer date |
|---|---|---|---|
| J. Markelo |
Coventry
|
Transfer | 7 August 2026 |
| J. Markelo |
Coventry
|
Transfer | 6 August 2026 |
| D. Coulibaly |
Dibba Al-Fujairah
|
- | 12 July 2026 |
| D. Coulibaly |
Dibba Al-Fujairah
|
- | 11 July 2026 |
| Jorge Fernandes |
Al-Fateh
|
Free agent | 10 July 2026 |
| Khaled Al Senaani |
Al-Wasl FC
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| Bader Nasser |
Al Wahda FC
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| C. Doumbia |
Al Nasr
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| Adyson |
Al Bataeh
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| Oumar Keita |
Al Bataeh
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| Marwan Fahad |
Al Bataeh
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| M. Dabbur |
Baniyas SC
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| R. Ghandipour |
Al Wahda FC
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| Khaled Al Senaani |
Al-Wasl FC
|
Free agent | 7 April 2026 |
| Matheus Donelli |
Corinthians
|
Loan | 5 February 2026 |
Departures recorded include permanent transfers, loans and a free-agent exit. Marwan Fahad moved to Al-Ittihad Kalba in July 2026, while D. Coulibaly joined Hatta SC on loan and Adyson moved to Al-Ittihad Kalba on loan. Earlier departures include Ghaith Al Musharrekh to Sharjah FC, Saeed Sulaiman to Al Bataeh and G. Suárez to Al Wahda FC on transfers. Harib Abdalla Suhail left for Sharjah FC as a free agent, while Gustavo moved to Coritiba. Other loan destinations include Baniyas SC, Dubai United, Al Nasr and Al Bataeh. The listed movements are a selected record rather than a complete departures total.
Latest player transfers to
| Player | Team to | Transfer type | Transfer date |
|---|---|---|---|
| R. Maqdami |
Dubai United
|
Transfer | 14 August 2026 |
| C. Doumbia |
Sharjah FC
|
Free agent | 31 July 2026 |
| C. Doumbia |
Sharjah FC
|
Free agent | 29 July 2026 |
| Marwan Fahad |
Al-Ittihad Kalba
|
- | 18 July 2026 |
| Sebastían González Baquero |
LDU de Quito
|
- | 16 July 2026 |
| D. Coulibaly |
Hatta SC
|
Loan | 13 July 2026 |
| Adyson |
Al-Ittihad Kalba
|
Loan | 30 June 2026 |
|
Sharjah FC
|
Transfer | 7 February 2026 | |
| Saeed Sulaiman |
Al Bataeh
|
Transfer | 6 February 2026 |
| G. Suárez |
Al Wahda FC
|
Transfer | 5 February 2026 |
| Adyson |
Al Bataeh
|
Loan | 3 February 2026 |
| M. Dabbur |
Baniyas SC
|
Loan | 25 January 2026 |
| Gustavo |
Coritiba
|
Transfer | 6 January 2026 |
| Harib Abdalla Suhail |
Sharjah FC
|
Free agent | 21 October 2025 |
| R. Ghandipour |
Al Wahda FC
|
Loan | 30 September 2025 |
Transfers Synthesis
Across the recorded period, arrivals show both moves from other clubs and reintegration after loans. The 2026 entries are concentrated around early July and August, with J. Markelo, Jorge Fernandes and Khaled Al Senaani among the latest additions, while several June arrivals are returns from temporary spells. The earlier 2025 activity also combines transfers, a loan and a free transfer, including Kaiky, E. Irala, João Marcelo, M. Seifi and N. Maksimović. Departures follow a similarly mixed pattern: permanent moves sit alongside loans to UAE clubs and a return to an overseas destination. Repeated names, including Adyson, D. Coulibaly, Gustavo and R. Ghandipour, appear at different points and in different movement types, indicating that individual registrations can change over time. The available entries therefore show movement and circulation within the squad without establishing a full-window balance.
Leagues Shabab Al Ahli Dubai has participated in
Recorded participation places Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in the UAE Pro League, League Cup, Presidents Cup, Friendlies Clubs and AFC Champions League, all with activity recorded through 2025 and marked as recent. The AFC Cup, Super Cup and UAE-Qatar Super Shield are historical entries, with their latest recorded participation in 2024. The competition profile therefore combines domestic league and cup football with friendlies and recurring continental involvement. The records establish participation across these competitions, but do not provide season results, fixtures or final standings.
More about Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai is a Dubai football club in the United Arab Emirates, founded in 1958. Its present identity is closely tied to the restructuring of Dubai football in 2017, when Al Ahli Club, Al Shabab and Dubai CSC were brought together. That merger created a consolidated institution while preserving the historical associations, supporters and competitive traditions of its constituent clubs.
The club is widely known as the Red Knights, a name that captures its red visual identity and combative sporting image. Red is traditionally supported by green and white, with gold accents appearing in the badge and wider presentation. The crest’s Arabian horse is associated with power, nobility and determination, giving the club a distinctive symbol within Emirati football.
Rashid Stadium is the club’s primary historical home in Dubai’s Al Nahda and Al Qusais area. The organisation also has traditional links with Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium and Al Aweer Stadium, reflecting the broader venue network connected with its Dubai sporting heritage. These grounds place the club within the city’s established football geography rather than presenting it as a newly created sporting project.
Shabab Al Ahli operates under high-level patronage associated with Dubai’s leadership and the Al Maktoum family, reinforcing its position as a flagship institution. On the pitch, its ecosystem combines a strong Emirati base with international recruitment, a balance suited to domestic competition and AFC ambitions. The club’s recorded participation includes the UAE Pro League, domestic cups, friendlies and Asian competitions, giving it a profile that extends beyond the local league. Its durable identity rests on the intersection of merger-era organisation, inherited club history, Dubai civic presence and the Red Knights tradition.
Last matches statistics for Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
| match | shots | Poss. | Pass % | Fouls | Cards | Saves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
1 - 1
Al Bataeh
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Sigma Olomouc
2 - 0
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Udinese
1 - 2
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
FSV Mainz 05
1 - 0
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Khorfakkan
1 - 5
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
2 - 0
Al-Dhafra
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Al-Wasl FC
0 - 1
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
1 - 3
Al-Jazira
|
4 / 12 |
|
0% | 6 | 1 | 2 |
|
Dubai United
1 - 1
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
|
4 / 17 |
|
0% | 9 | - | 2 |
|
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
1 - 0
Tractor Sazi
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
Detailed statistics Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
Xtra rating history
Last rating points (most recent matches).
shots Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
Warnings Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
Passes Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
Goalkeeper saves Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
Latest start lineups Shabab Al Ahli Dubai (XI)
Dubai United vs Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
Pro League 2026 - 1634287
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai vs Al-Jazira
Pro League 2026 - 1599449
Machida Zelvia vs Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
AFC Champions League Elite 2025 - 1541764
Buriram United vs Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
AFC Champions League Elite 2025 - 1540754
Tractor Sazi vs Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
AFC Champions League Elite 2025 - 1524400
Sharjah FC vs Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
Pro League 2025 - 1505589
2019-2020
1st shirt