The UAE Gulf Cup 2026 campaign is almost here, but before the first whistle against Yemen, another question is becoming just as interesting as the tournament itself: which players will Zlatko Dalić trust from the opening minute?
The UAE have completed their main preparation phase in Abu Dhabi and are heading to Jeddah for Gulf Cup 27 with a 26-player squad.
There is no confirmed starting XI yet.
That is precisely what makes the final training sessions important.
Dalić is beginning a new chapter with the UAE national team, and the short preparation window gives every selected player an opportunity to show that he belongs in the coach’s first-choice team.
The UAE open Group B against Yemen on September 24 before facing Bahrain and Qatar.
For UAE supporters, the first match will therefore reveal more than the tournament result. It will provide the first real indication of how Dalić intends to build his team.
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UAE Gulf Cup 2026 Training Update
The UAE began preparations for Gulf Cup 27 in Abu Dhabi on September 17.
The training camp was held at the Ritz-Carlton facility, with the team working under new head coach Zlatko Dalić ahead of the trip to Saudi Arabia.
The focus has been on more than simply getting players fit.
Dalić has been working on tactical ideas and introducing his approach to a squad that had only a limited amount of preparation time before the tournament.
That makes the final sessions particularly important.
Players already know they are in the tournament squad, but being selected among the 26 does not guarantee a place in the XI.
The difference between being named in the squad and starting against Yemen could come down to tactical suitability, fitness, training performance and the shape Dalić wants to use.
The UAE Football Association president Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan also attended a training session in Abu Dhabi, meeting the technical staff and players and stressing the importance of making the most of the preparation period.
The UAE then travelled to Jeddah ahead of the opening match.
Table of Contents
UAE Gulf Cup 2026 Squad: Who Is Available?
Dalić selected 26 players for the Gulf Cup.
The squad includes goalkeeper Khalid Eisa, defenders such as Khalifa Al Hammadi, Sasha Ivkovic and Lucas Pimenta, midfield options including Fabio De Lima, Nicolas Jimenez and Hareb Abdulla, and attacking players including Sultan Adel, Ali Saleh and Ousmane Camara.
The full squad is:
Goalkeepers:
Khalid Eisa, Hamad Al Muqbali, Fahad Al Dhanhani
Defenders:
Marcus Meloni, Zayed Al Zaabi, Khalid Al Dhanhani, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Alaeddin Zahir, Sasha Ivkovic, Lucas Pimenta, Erik de Menezes
Midfielders:
Ruben Philip, Luan Pereira, Abdulla Hamad, Mamadou Coulibaly, Issam Fayez, Fabio De Lima, Nicolas Jimenez, Hareb Abdulla, Bruno de Oliveira, Ali Saleh, Yuri Cesar
Attackers:
Richard Akonnor, Guilherme Da Silva, Sultan Adel, Ousmane Camara
The list itself tells us something important.
Dalić has several options across the attacking and midfield areas, while experienced players and younger options are included in the same group.
That creates the central selection question before UAE vs Yemen.
Who Starts for UAE Against Yemen?
It would be too early to publish a predicted XI as though it were confirmed.
Instead, the more useful question is: which areas give Dalić the biggest selection decisions?
Goalkeeper: Experience or another option?
Khalid Eisa brings considerable experience and is the most established name in the UAE goalkeeper group.
Hamad Al Muqbali and Fahad Al Dhanhani are also part of the tournament squad.
Until Dalić announces his XI, the goalkeeper position should be treated as a selection decision rather than a confirmed answer.
Defence: Which combination fits Dalić’s system?
The UAE have several defensive options, including Khalifa Al Hammadi, Sasha Ivkovic and Lucas Pimenta.
The interesting issue is not simply which defenders are individually strongest.
It is how Dalić wants the defensive line to function.
Does he want a defence built around experience and familiarity?
Or will the new coach use the Gulf Cup to establish a slightly different combination?
The answer could become visible during the opening match against Yemen.
Midfield: The area to watch closely
Fabio De Lima, Nicolas Jimenez, Hareb Abdulla, Yuri Cesar, Issam Fayez and the other midfield options give Dalić different possibilities.
This is where training-ground decisions can have a major effect.
A midfielder who fits the coach’s pressing structure, passing rhythm or defensive responsibilities may have an advantage even if supporters have another preferred combination.
That is why the final training sessions matter.
Attack: Sultan Adel, Ousmane Camara and the wider options
The attacking group contains several different profiles.
Sultan Adel and Ousmane Camara are among the names UAE supporters will be watching closely, while Ali Saleh and other attacking options can also influence the team’s shape.
The key question is whether Dalić prefers a traditional central striker, a more mobile forward line or a system where attacking players rotate positions.
Again, the first XI will provide the clearest answer.
The Players UAE Fans Should Watch
Fabio De Lima
Fabio De Lima remains one of the most recognizable attacking names in the UAE squad.
His experience gives Dalić an important option when building an attacking structure.
His role will be particularly interesting because the coach is beginning a new tactical phase with the national team.
Nicolas Jimenez
Jimenez is another player who could become important in the midfield and attacking structure.
Rather than simply asking whether he starts, supporters should watch where Dalić positions him and how much freedom he receives.
That could tell us a lot about the coach’s preferred system.
Hareb Abdulla
Hareb Abdulla is another name to watch during the opening game.
His inclusion gives Dalić another option in the attacking and midfield areas, and the Gulf Cup provides an important opportunity for players to establish themselves in the new setup.
Sultan Adel
Sultan Adel is one of the forward options in the 26-man squad.
The Yemen match could provide an early indication of how Dalić wants to use his central attacking players.
Ousmane Camara
Camara also enters the tournament as part of the UAE’s attacking group.
His involvement will be worth following because the UAE’s attacking structure could change depending on whether Dalić chooses one central forward or a more flexible front line.
Why the Yemen Opener Matters
The UAE’s first Group B match is against Yemen on September 24.
The game is scheduled for 7:55 PM UAE time at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
The match matters for the obvious reason — points are at stake — but it also has another importance for Dalić.
It is the first competitive opportunity to see his ideas translated into a tournament match.
A training session can show movement patterns, pressing drills and tactical instructions.
A competitive match shows whether those ideas survive when the opposition starts disrupting them.
That makes UAE vs Yemen an important early reference point for the new coach.
It can also influence the selection decisions that follow.
UAE’s Group B Route
The UAE are in Group B with Yemen, Bahrain and Qatar.
Their group-stage schedule is:
September 24 — UAE vs Yemen
King Abdullah Sports City
September 27 — Bahrain vs UAE
Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City
September 30 — UAE vs Qatar
King Abdullah Sports City
The group therefore gives Dalić three different tests.
Yemen comes first.
Bahrain are the defending Gulf Cup champions.
Qatar then provide the final group-stage test.
That means the opening XI does not necessarily have to remain unchanged throughout the tournament.
The first match could establish the core team, while later games could see adjustments based on performance, fitness and the group situation.
What UAE Fans Should Watch Before Kick-Off
The biggest clues may come before the official lineup is released.
1. Who receives the most tactical work?
Training sessions can reveal which combinations Dalić is testing.
That does not automatically mean those players will start, but it can provide clues.
2. Which attacking combination looks most natural?
The UAE have several forward and attacking midfield options.
Watch how they combine rather than focusing only on individual names.
3. Does Dalić keep the defensive structure simple?
With limited preparation time, defensive organization will be an important part of the UAE’s opening performance.
4. Which substitutes can change the match?
The starting XI is only part of the selection story.
A player who does not start against Yemen could still become one of the most important players in the tournament through his impact from the bench.
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The UAE Gulf Cup 2026 story will not end when the starting XI is announced.
The same coverage should follow the match through the score, goals, substitutions, cards and major moments before moving into Bahrain and Qatar.
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UAE vs Yemen: Match Details
Competition: Gulf Cup 27
Group: Group B
Match: UAE vs Yemen
Date: September 24, 2026
Kick-off: 7:55 PM UAE time
Venue: King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah
The official starting XI should be treated as the final word on selection.
Until then, the most interesting UAE Gulf Cup 2026 question is not who supporters expect to start.
It is which players can convince Dalić that they should.
UAE Gulf Cup 2026 FAQ
When is UAE vs Yemen?
UAE vs Yemen is scheduled for September 24, 2026, in the opening Group B match for the UAE.
What time is UAE vs Yemen?
Kick-off is scheduled for 7:55 PM UAE time.
Where will UAE vs Yemen be played?
The match will be played at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Who is the UAE coach for Gulf Cup 27?
Croatian coach Zlatko Dalić is leading the UAE national team for Gulf Cup 27.
How many players are in the UAE Gulf Cup squad?
Dalić selected a 26-player squad for the tournament.
Are Yahya Al Ghassani and Junior Ndiaye in the UAE Gulf Cup squad?
No. They are involved with the UAE Olympic/Asian Games setup rather than the senior Gulf Cup squad, so they should not be listed as UAE Gulf Cup starting-XI contenders.
Who could start for UAE against Yemen?
The official starting XI had not been confirmed at the time of this article. Players such as Khalid Eisa, Fabio De Lima, Nicolas Jimenez, Hareb Abdulla, Sultan Adel and Ousmane Camara are among the squad members whose roles will be worth watching.
What are UAE’s other Gulf Cup group matches?
After Yemen, the UAE face Bahrain on September 27 and Qatar on September 30.
The Bigger Question for UAE
The Yemen match is only the beginning.
Dalić has arrived with a 26-player squad and a limited preparation period, meaning Gulf Cup 27 can become an important early stage in defining his preferred UAE team.
The first lineup will give supporters their first major clue.
The performances that follow will provide the next ones.
And that is why the UAE Gulf Cup 2026 starting-XI question is worth following beyond one match.
Who should start against Yemen?
That is the debate UAE supporters can have once the final team sheet arrives.
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