Football in Dubai/UAE?

[morky]

Can anybody tell me what the standard of football is like in Dubai or the rest of the United Arab Emirates please? I know that a few high profile footballers have moved there for big money toward the end of their careers, but I know nothing about the clubs there. Is the standard of football worth going to see, are the attendances decent or are games played in empty stadia?

Thanks for anything you can tell me.

Morky.

[snyder]

Hello mate

I lived there for around 17 years and I know still know very little about the football there. The highest profile player they had there (who wasn't at the end of their career) was Iranian star Ali Karimi. He played with Dubai club Al-Ahli for a few years before moving to Bayern. Currently the biggest 'star' would probably be ex-Anderlecht and Serbian striker Nenad Jestrović and UAE star Ismail Matar.

The standard isn't good even in comparison to the neighbouring Gulf states. The Qatari league is much richer and that is where all those big name players move (Batistua, Lebeouf, Desailly, Frank De Boer in recent times).

They still love their football though as they get decent attendances. The league teams are full of local players for the most part and the crowd at games is also mainly Emarati (and their chants and songs bring to it a atmosphere unique to Arab football stadia).

I preferred just watching European games at the many Irish pubs over there or if you want a little more fiery atmosphere - a big Serie A game at a crowded sheesha joint.

[morky]

Thanks a lot for the great advice mate.

We are thinking of investing in property over there, hopefully sometime next year, and spending a bit of time over there in the Sun. It will be interesting to see what the atmosphere is like at a game there. I'll start reading up on Al-Ahli now.

Cheers.

[snyder]

Thanks a lot for the great advice mate.

We are thinking of investing in property over there, hopefully sometime next year, and spending a bit of time over there in the Sun. It will be interesting to see what the atmosphere is like at a game there. I'll start reading up on Al-Ahli now.

Cheers.

Nice one mate.
The real estate sector has been in a massive boom over there for a while now and they're not really slowing down with all the construction going on over there right now. I go back every 12-18 months and the city is recognizable as it's in constant transformation.

Don't make the mistake of going there for the summer though. It's absolutely unbearable. Mid Oct - Early Apr is probably the best time.

[Blitzkrieg]

Hey there!

I have been living in Dubai all my life (20 years ie.) and I pay a close watch on the football here... to be frank, it hasn't developed like the other neighboring countries, the level of football is below par, but clubs have good amount of money and they do get quality players, like Karimi, who played for Al Ahli,( Al Alhi Club is 5 min from my house :D )... but there are various programmes coming... Manchester United have already/ will opened a football school here, and so is Arsenal I guess, but I don't see any improvement from the local talent for another 5 years .

Oh yeah, never even dream of coming here between June - August, you might die.