Yahya Al-Ghassani: UAE Footballer, Career, Club and Achievements

Introduction

Yahya Al-Ghassani is an Emirati professional footballer who plays for Shabab Al Ahli Dubai and represents the United Arab Emirates national team. He is best known as an attacking player who can operate on the wing and contribute goals in important club and international matches.

Born on 18 April 1998, Al-Ghassani developed through football in the UAE before beginning his senior career with Al Wahda. He later moved to Shabab Al Ahli, where he became part of title-winning teams and scored several important goals.

He has also represented the UAE in major international competitions, including the AFC Asian Cup, FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, and the FIFA Arab Cup.

As of August 2026, he remains listed as a first-team player for Shabab Al Ahli.

Readers interested in more UAE-focused people, companies, and organisations can also explore UAE business and public figure coverage.

Yahya Al-Ghassani Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Full name	Yahya Ali Said Al Ghassani
Known as	Yahya Al-Ghassani
Date of birth	18 April 1998
Age	28 years old as of August 2026
Nationality	Emirati
Profession	Professional footballer
Current club	Shabab Al Ahli Dubai
Shirt number	11
Playing role	Attacking player / winger
Height	179 cm
National team	United Arab Emirates

Who Is Yahya Al-Ghassani?

Yahya Al-Ghassani is a UAE footballer who has built his career in domestic and international competitions.

He began attracting attention during his early years with Al Wahda. His speed, attacking movement, and ability to play in wide areas helped him earn regular opportunities at senior level.

Later, he joined Shabab Al Ahli, one of the leading football clubs in the UAE. His career continued to develop there through domestic trophies and appearances in Asian club competitions.

He has also become a regular option for the UAE national side.

Early Football Career

Al-Ghassani spent part of his early development with Al Ahli Dubai between 2015 and 2017.

In 2018, he also spent a short period with Paris FC before returning to the UAE.

His professional breakthrough came after joining Al Wahda in August 2018.

At Al Wahda, he quickly received first-team opportunities. He scored league goals against teams including Kalba and Shabab Al Ahli and also found the net in domestic cup competition.

His early progress helped establish him as one of the UAE players to watch.

Al Wahda Career

Al Wahda gave Al-Ghassani an important platform at the beginning of his senior career.

He initially joined the club in 2018 and soon moved into the first-team picture.

His performances helped him earn a longer agreement with the club after his early appearances.

During this period, he worked under coaches who gave him opportunities to develop his attacking game and gain experience against senior opposition.

His time at Al Wahda prepared him for the next major step in his career.

Move to Shabab Al Ahli

Al-Ghassani joined Shabab Al Ahli in January 2021.

His start with the club was memorable.

On 15 January 2021, he scored in a 1-0 victory over Al Nasr, registering his first goal for Shabab Al Ahli.

The move placed him within a team regularly competing for domestic trophies and places in major Asian competitions.

Over the following seasons, he became part of several successful campaigns.

Shabab Al Ahli League Success

One of the most important moments of his club career came during the 2022–23 UAE league season.

Shabab Al Ahli needed an important result against Bani Yas as the title race moved toward its conclusion.

After falling behind, the team fought back.

Azizjon Ganiev scored the equaliser before Al-Ghassani produced the winning goal.

Shabab Al Ahli won 2-1, securing the league championship with one round still to play.

That goal became one of the defining moments of his domestic career.

UAE Super Cup Performance

He also played an important role in Shabab Al Ahli’s success in the UAE Super Cup.

In a major match against Sharjah, Shabab Al Ahli completed a remarkable comeback and won 6-2.

Al-Ghassani scored twice during the match.

The performance added another important achievement to his record with the Dubai club.

2024–25 Historic Season

Shabab Al Ahli enjoyed another major period of success during the 2024–25 season.

The club won the ADNOC Pro League title and completed a historic campaign that included four major trophies.

Al-Ghassani remained part of the first-team squad during this successful period.

The season strengthened his record as a player involved in some of Shabab Al Ahli’s most successful recent campaigns.

UAE National Team Career

Al-Ghassani has also represented the United Arab Emirates senior national team.

His attacking ability has earned him appearances in major continental and international competitions.

He was included in the UAE senior setup again in March 2026, showing that he remained part of the national-team picture.

His international career includes appearances at the AFC Asian Cup, FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and the FIFA Arab Cup.

AFC Asian Cup Performances

The AFC Asian Cup played in early 2024 became an important tournament in his international career.

He scored in the UAE’s 3-1 victory over Hong Kong, China in the group stage.

He later found the net against Iran.

That late goal helped the UAE progress from its group on goal difference.

Performing and scoring at the Asian Cup increased his profile among football fans outside the UAE.

FIFA World Cup Qualifying Goals

Al-Ghassani has also contributed goals during the UAE’s FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.

In October 2024, he scored the opening goal in a 1-1 draw with DPR Korea.

One month later, he scored again as the UAE defeated Qatar 5-0 in Abu Dhabi.

The Qatar victory was one of the national team’s most eye-catching results during that qualifying period.

His performances in these matches demonstrated his ability to contribute in important international fixtures.

2025 FIFA Arab Cup

The 2025 FIFA Arab Cup produced another major moment.

During the group stage, Al-Ghassani scored twice against Kuwait as the UAE won 3-1 and progressed to the quarter-finals.

His two goals came only 88 seconds apart.

The UAE later faced Algeria in the quarter-final.

Al-Ghassani delivered the cross that led to Bruno’s goal as the Emirates advanced to the semi-finals.

Their tournament ended after Morocco defeated the UAE 3-0 in the last four.

Even so, reaching the semi-final represented a notable tournament run for the national side.

AFC Champions League Elite

At club level, Al-Ghassani has also competed in the AFC Champions League Elite with Shabab Al Ahli.

During the 2025–26 competition, he scored from the penalty spot against Al Sadd.

Shabab Al Ahli later reached the Round of 16.

Playing in Asian club competition has allowed him to test himself against leading teams from across the continent.

Yahya Al-Ghassani Playing Position

Different official sources describe his exact role slightly differently.

Shabab Al Ahli lists him among its midfield players, while the UAE Pro League identifies him as a forward.

In practical terms, he is commonly used as an attacking wide player or winger.

His game allows him to operate close to the opposition goal, move into space from wider areas, and support the team’s main attackers.

This flexibility explains why different databases may place him under different position categories.

Current Club and Statistics

As of August 2026, Al-Ghassani is listed as a first-team player for Shabab Al Ahli.

He wears the number 11 shirt.

His club profile records:

• 168 matches
• 8,777 playing minutes
• 36 goals
• 13 yellow cards

These numbers come from the statistical record displayed on his club profile and should not automatically be treated as statistics from one competition alone.

YA10 Academy

His work is not limited to playing football.

By 2026, he had also become the founder of YA10 Academy.

The academy focuses on developing young football talent and connecting sport with wider community activities.

In January 2026, YA10 Academy signed a memorandum of understanding with Al Jalila Foundation.

The partnership included football-related activities designed to support charitable engagement and patient-care fundraising.

This project shows how Al-Ghassani has started using his football profile in activities beyond professional matches.

Family Background

Reliable public reporting has documented part of his family background because it was relevant to his football eligibility.

His mother is Emirati, while his father was reported to have Tanzanian and Omani nationality documents.

This family background became important during changes to UAE football registration rules earlier in his career.

Claims about his marriage, wife, children, or relationships should not be added without strong public confirmation.

Yahya Al-Ghassani Net Worth and Salary

There is no reliable public financial filing or official disclosure that provides a confirmed net worth for the footballer.

For that reason, unsupported figures commonly published by generic profile websites should not be treated as facts.

His exact salary and current contract value should also be avoided unless Shabab Al Ahli, an official football body, or another authoritative financial source makes those figures public.

Major Career Achievements

His confirmed career highlights include:

• Developing through UAE football before entering senior competition
• Playing for Al Wahda
• Joining Shabab Al Ahli in 2021
• Scoring his first Shabab Al Ahli goal against Al Nasr
• Helping secure the 2022–23 UAE league championship
• Scoring twice in a UAE Super Cup victory over Sharjah
• Being part of Shabab Al Ahli’s successful 2024–25 campaign
• Scoring for the UAE at the AFC Asian Cup
• Finding the net in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches
• Scoring twice against Kuwait at the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup
• Helping the UAE reach the 2025 Arab Cup semi-final
• Competing in the AFC Champions League Elite
• Founding YA10 Academy

Interesting Facts About Yahya Al-Ghassani

He spent a short period with Paris FC in 2018 before establishing his professional career in the UAE.

His first Shabab Al Ahli goal came in a 1-0 win over Al Nasr shortly after joining the club.

He scored the decisive goal that helped Shabab Al Ahli secure the 2022–23 league championship.

His two Arab Cup goals against Kuwait in 2025 were scored only 88 seconds apart.

Away from matchday football, he is also involved in youth development through YA10 Academy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Yahya Al-Ghassani known for?

He is known as a UAE professional footballer who plays for Shabab Al Ahli and represents the United Arab Emirates national team.

Which club does Yahya Al-Ghassani play for?

As of August 2026, he is listed with Shabab Al Ahli Dubai.

What number does he wear?

He wears shirt number 11 for Shabab Al Ahli.

When was Yahya Al-Ghassani born?

He was born on 18 April 1998.

How old is he?

He is 28 years old as of August 2026.

What position does he play?

He plays mainly as an attacking wide player. Official football databases may classify him as a midfielder or forward.

Has he played for the UAE national team?

Yes. He has represented the UAE in major competitions, including the AFC Asian Cup, World Cup qualifying matches, and the FIFA Arab Cup.

What was one of his biggest club goals?

One of his most important goals came against Bani Yas in 2023. It helped Shabab Al Ahli win the league championship with one round remaining.

Conclusion

Yahya Al-Ghassani has become an established figure in UAE football through his performances for Shabab Al Ahli and the national team.

His career includes league titles, major domestic trophies, Asian club football, AFC Asian Cup goals, World Cup qualifying appearances, and a strong 2025 Arab Cup campaign.

At 28 years old in August 2026, he remains listed with Shabab Al Ahli and continues to be connected with the UAE national-team setup.

His growing involvement with YA10 Academy also adds another part to his public career, with a focus on young players and community initiatives.