UAE football salary cap: Emirati professional players limited to Dh2.5 million a year under new rules

Dubai: Former member of the Players' Status and Transfers Committee at the UAE Football Association, Counsellor Yaqoub Al Ali, stressed the importance of the Football Association obligating clubs to implement the salary cap regulations for professional Emirati players, which the Football Association announced it would implement after its official adoption. The regulations stipulate that the maximum salary for a professional Emirati player is Dh2.5 million annually (about Dh208,000 monthly). He pointed out the importance of imposing penalties on any club proven to have violated the salary cap for players, noting that the goal of these regulations is to govern the financial spending of clubs by not exceeding the specified ceiling and limiting some wrong practices. In addition, this decision preserves the financial sustainability of clubs and prevents burdening their budgets with unplanned financial amounts. Al Ali said: “In order to regulate the issue of the salary cap, the Football Association must require any club that contracts with a professional player to register the contract with the association so that it has legal status. The Legal Affairs Department at the association or the Player Registration Department should verify the contract and review its terms, including the club’s obligations towards the player, as well as the player’s obligations, the value and duration of the contract, and the salary amount stipulated in the contract. If the specified amount exceeds the specified cap, the club can be asked to amend the contract value. If it is proven that any club has violated the regulations and the specified cap, the Football Association can refer the matter to the Football Association’s Disciplinary Committee.” According to Appendix No. 2 within the regulations for the status and transfer of players approved for the year 2026 at the General Assembly meeting, the Football Association has identified four categories of professional Emirati players in the local league, to whom the salary cap applies. This is so that the maximum salary of a player during one season in the first category, which includes six players instead of four as it was in the previous regulations, from each club does not exceed Dh2.5 million. In the second category, which also includes six players, the maximum salary was set at Dh1.8 million. In the third category, which includes 15 players instead of 10 as it was previously, the maximum is Dh1.2 million. The fourth category includes 10 players or more from each club, provided that the salary of a player in this category is not less than Dh10,000 per month and does not exceed Dh600,000 annually. According to the text of the decision, these salaries include the contract advance and any other financial benefits, except for bonuses related to winning, tying, excellence, and any other bonuses. The newly approved regulations also included local professional players in the First Division League. According to Appendix B, the decision stipulated that for players aged 16 to 17, the minimum salary would be Dh1,500 and the maximum Dh3,000, as a reward, not a monthly salary. For players aged 18 to 20, the minimum salary would be Dh2,000 and the maximum Dh10,000. For players aged 21 to 22, the minimum salary would be Dh2,500 and the maximum Dh20,000. For players over 23, the minimum salary would be Dh4,000 and the maximum Dh40,000 per month. The highest salary in the ‘amateur’ league reached Dh40,000 per month. Table of maximum salaries for local players in professional clubs The first category includes six players: Dh2.5 million annually. The second category includes six players: Dh1.8 million annually. The third category includes 15 players: Dh1.2 million annually. The fourth category includes 10 or more players from each club, with a player's salary not less than Dh10,000 per month and not more than Dh600,000 per year. Monthly salary schedule for local players in first division clubs From age 16 to 17, the minimum is Dh1,500, and the maximum is Dh3,000, which is a bonus, not a monthly salary. From age 18 to 20, the minimum is Dh2,000, and the maximum is Dh10,000. From age 21 to 22, the minimum is Dh2,500, and the maximum is Dh20,000. Over 23 years old, the minimum is Dh4,000, and the maximum is Dh40,000.