Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Vice President of the UAE National Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, affirmed that the UAE national football team has undergone an extensive rebuilding process over the past several years to strengthen its technical capabilities. He noted that the team had a golden opportunity to qualify for the FIFA World Cup and came extremely close to achieving that goal, but a combination of factors prevented it from doing so. He stressed that the continued development of the national team requires expanding the player base and making full use of all available human resources.

His remarks came during the concluding session of the Rashid bin Humaid Ramadan Majlis 2026, which was dedicated to discussing the state of sports in the UAE. The session was held under the patronage and in the presence of Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, with the participation of officials, athletes and individuals interested in sports affairs.

Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid said: “Significant efforts have been made over the past several years to develop the national team and improve its technical performance. There has been a clear commitment to bringing in qualified technical professionals capable of supporting the team and contributing the expertise needed for its development.”

He added: “I was among those who called for a greater role for resident players, as this category had not previously been utilised to its full potential, despite representing an important human resource that could make a significant contribution to football in the UAE.”

He continued: “There is no country in the world that does not benefit from the majority of its population in supporting football, particularly when such a large segment represents a sustainable human resource for developing the sport and expanding the talent pool.”

Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid further stated: “Many new players joined the national team and needed more time to develop cohesion. We played several strong and highly competitive matches, and while some of our mistakes were evident, every match provided valuable lessons that we have learned from and are working to ensure are not repeated.”

He emphasised the pivotal role of football clubs in developing the national team’s performance, explaining that players spend more than 70% of their time during the season with their clubs, while the remaining time is spent with the national team. This makes clubs essential partners in preparing players and refining their abilities.

Addressing the appointment of Romanian coach Cosmin Olăroiu as head coach of the UAE national team, Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid highlighted his extensive coaching experience and distinguished track record.

He said: “Cosmin has a strong coaching history, an impressive record and well-known achievements. His appointment to lead the national team at this stage was a sound decision, as coaching is not limited to technical aspects but also involves the psychological dimension.”

He added: “The coach maintains a close relationship with the players and has a strong ability to motivate them. However, from a technical perspective, he faced challenges due to the introduction of many new players into the squad, which led him to experiment with several different line-ups during recent matches.”

Turning to the national team’s opportunity to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid stressed that qualification had been within reach.

He said: “The opportunity to qualify for the World Cup was handed to us on a silver platter. However, the play-off match was influenced more by administrative strategy than by the psychological aspects of the contest on the pitch. There was not complete fairness in the selection of the match venue or the allocation of tickets to supporters. In the past, play-off matches were either held at neutral venues or played over two legs, home and away, but what happened this time was different.”

He added: “The individual technical abilities of our players have improved compared with previous years. Today, we also have a substitutes’ bench that includes a good number of players, following years in which coaching staff complained about limited options. We have worked over the past period to expand the pool of registered players in the country, and the number has now reached between 7,000 and 7,500. The larger this number becomes in the future, the more options our national teams will have when selecting players.”

He continued: “If the number of players reaches 15,000, the available options will double, particularly with Emirati players gaining professional experience at European clubs, which provides the national team with greater exposure and valuable competitive experience.”

Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid also addressed the issue of contracts for Emirati football players, affirming that Emirati players are privileged rather than disadvantaged.

He said: “The amounts paid to Emirati players by clubs in the UAE are sums that no club elsewhere in the world would be prepared to pay them. It can therefore be said that the clubs are the disadvantaged parties and the ones bearing the financial burden. In the past, clubs were compelled to pay these amounts to secure Emirati players, but with the expansion of available options through foreign and resident players, prices have become more balanced.”

He continued: “What matters to me is having between 35 and 40 of our best players regularly featuring in their clubs’ starting line-ups, because players who compete consistently are better equipped to serve the national team.”

Concluding his remarks, Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid said: “In the world of professional football, it is only natural to make use of the resources available within the country. What matters most to me is having players with the technical ability and experience required to serve the national team and achieve success.”