Al Ain Extends Lead as UAE Pro League Delivers a Weekend of Key Showdowns

Round 9 Overview

ADNOC Pro League returns with five matches in the ninth round, played on Saturday and Sunday, with two fixtures postponed to January 10, 2026 due to Asian competitions.

Saturday opens with three games: Bani Yas hosting Khorfakan as the home side chase only their second win of the season, while Khorfakan looks to rebound from a recent defeat and regain momentum.

Additionally, Dibba welcome Ajman in a clash of two teams with different aims—Ajman hoping to push on in the standings and Dibba seeking their first win and a climb off the bottom.

The day closes with a marquee meeting: Al Ain, top of the table on 20 points, hosting Ittihad Kalba at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, a duel that pits Ivic against Razovic.

Al Ain will push to extend their lead, while Kalba will chase a positive result to move closer to the frontrunners.

Sunday Fixtures

The weekend concludes with two fixtures: Al Bataeh versus Al Nasr in a points battle after both sides won last round, and Al Jazira versus Al Dhafra in a tight encounter where the teams are separated by only a couple of points in the standings.

The schedule remains a talking point as teams chase consistency and a potential tilt in the table as the season progresses.

Punchline time: If Al Ain keeps this pace, the trophy might need a bigger shelf—and a new room in the club’s trophy case. And in football, every calendar has a plan, but only some plans include a passport for travel-—this league’s schedule certainly does!