Al Ain register Moroccan duo Rahimi and Ben Khaliq as Emirati citizens

UAE club Al Ain have registered Moroccan players Hussein Rahimi and Yahya Ben Khaliq as Emirati citizens, allowing the pair to be listed as local players rather than foreigners.

The two players were granted Emirati citizenship through a sports passport following a request and initiative from the UAE Football Association, after impressing during their time with Al Ain.

The move will give the club greater flexibility in managing its squad and registering foreign professionals for upcoming competitions.

Moroccan duo earn Emirati status

Rahimi and Ben Khaliq were granted their new status in recognition of their performances for Al Ain.

Their registration as Emirati citizens means they will no longer occupy foreign-player slots in the UAE Football Association’s records.

That will allow Al Ain to use additional places for foreign professionals as they strengthen their squad for the new season.

Rahimi and Ben Khaliq helped Al Ain to league title

The Moroccan pair played important roles in Al Ain’s successful campaign last season.

Their contributions helped the club secure the UAE league title, with Rahimi particularly standing out as one of the team’s key attacking players.

The decision to grant the duo Emirati sports passports is therefore a boost for Al Ain as they prepare for another competitive campaign.

For Moroccan football, the development also highlights the growing influence of the country’s players in the UAE, with Rahimi and Ben Khaliq continuing their careers in Emirati football while gaining a new registration status.