Under new UAE Football Association regulations, the maximum annual salary for Emirati professional players at UAE Pro League clubs has been set at AED 2.5 million. Clubs that breach the cap face a fine of AED 5 million for a first offence and relegation to a lower division for a third offence.

Yaqoub Al Ali, a legal adviser and former member of the UAE Football Association’s Players’ Status and Transfer Committee, stressed the need for strict enforcement of the regulations to control costs and safeguard clubs’ financial sustainability.

The 2026 Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players took effect on June 19, with details of the salary caps set out in Appendix 2.

Four salary categories for Emirati footballers

Under the regulations, Emirati professional players in the UAE Pro League are divided into four categories:

  • Category 1: A maximum of six players per club, with an annual salary cap of AED 2.5 million per player.
  • Category 2: A maximum of six players, with an annual salary cap of AED 1.8 million.
  • Category 3: A maximum of 15 players, with an annual salary cap of AED 1.2 million.
  • Category 4: At least 10 players, with a minimum monthly salary of AED 10,000 and an annual salary cap of AED 600,000.

Compared with the previous regulations, the Category 1 limit has increased from four to six players, while the Category 3 limit has risen from 10 to 15 players.

Which payments count towards the salary cap?

In addition to a player’s salary, the annual cap covers advance contract payments and benefits such as housing, transport, vehicles, travel and education.

However, bonuses for wins, draws and outstanding performance are excluded from the individual salary cap and are governed by separate rules.

The annual bonus budget for players and members of the technical, administrative and medical staff has been capped at AED 6 million per UAE Pro League club and AED 3.6 million per First Division club. Clubs must record details of these payments in their financial documents and submit them to the federation for approval.

Salary caps for UAE First Division players

Financial limits for Emirati players in the First Division are based on age:

  • Ages 16 to 17: AED 1,500 to AED 3,000 as a bonus rather than a monthly salary.
  • Ages 18 to 20: A monthly salary of AED 2,000 to AED 10,000.
  • Ages 21 to 22: A monthly salary of AED 2,500 to AED 20,000.
  • Over 23: A monthly salary of AED 4,000 to AED 40,000.

The maximum monthly salary for Emirati players in the First Division is therefore AED 40,000.

Severe penalties for clubs that breach the rules

Under Article 47 of the UAE Football Association regulations, clubs that breach player salary or bonus caps face the following penalties:

  • First offence: A written warning, a fine of AED 5 million and a ban on registering new players during the next transfer window.
  • Second offence: A final warning, a fine of AED 10 million and a one-year ban on registering new players.
  • Third offence: Relegation to a lower division.

Players involved in breaches will also be suspended for six months for a first offence and one year for a second offence. A third offence carries a one-year suspension and a fine equivalent to one season’s salary under the player’s most recent contract.

Players’ agents and intermediaries involved in breaches may also face suspension, fines and even the revocation of their licences.

Contracts exceeding the salary cap are invalid

Yaqoub Al Ali stressed that the UAE Football Association must closely monitor the registration of contracts and clubs’ financial commitments and require amendments to any contracts that exceed the permitted cap.

Under the regulations, contracts and addenda that breach the salary cap are invalid and have no legal effect, subject to player registration rules. Federation committees will also refuse to consider them.

The regulations are intended to increase contract transparency, prevent unauthorised spending and strengthen the financial sustainability of UAE football clubs.