Cristiano Ronaldo set for UAE return as Al Nassr face Al Ain, Shabab Al Ahli
Saudi champions face tough assignments in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
DUBAI -- Cristiano Ronaldo is set to return to the UAE twice during the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite campaign, with Al Nassr drawn against Al Ain and Shabab Al Ahli in away fixtures.
The Saudi Pro League champions will first travel to Al Ain in September before making another trip to Dubai in February. The fixtures could give UAE football fans two opportunities to see one of the world's most recognisable players in competitive action.
Al Nassr vs Al Ain
Al Nassr's first UAE assignment will come against Al Ain on September 15, 2026, at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. The match will be the Saudi club's opening fixture in the league phase of the continental competition and will bring Ronaldo back to the Emirates early in the new season.
Al Nassr vs Shabab Al Ahli
The second meeting is scheduled for February 15, 2027, when Al Nassr visit Shabab Al Ahli at Al Rashid Stadium in Dubai. The fixture will be the eighth and final league-phase match for the Saudi side.
Ronaldo's return to UAE
The draw has produced an especially attractive schedule for UAE supporters, with two of the country's leading clubs hosting a side featuring Ronaldo.
Al Ain will have home advantage in the opening round, with the former Asian champions facing a strong Al Nassr team at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. The meeting also carries some history, as Al Ain eliminated Al Nassr in the quarter-finals of the 2023 AFC Champions League, winning the tie on penalties after a dramatic contest.
Shabab Al Ahli will then welcome Al Nassr to Dubai in February. The match is scheduled for February 15, 2027, and forms part of the competition's eighth round.
For UAE fans, Ronaldo's presence is likely to be the biggest attraction. However, his participation cannot be guaranteed this far in advance because team selection, fitness and other circumstances could affect whether he takes part in either fixture.
Bigger callenge
Al Nassr enter the competition as Saudi Pro League champions and will be aiming to go deep into Asia's premier club tournament. The club has yet to win the AFC Champions League Elite with Ronaldo, despite the Portuguese forward's continued pursuit of major honours since joining the Saudi side.
The 2026/27 competition has also undergone a significant expansion. The league phase now features 32 clubs, divided into West and East regions, with the top eight teams from each region progressing to the knockout stage. The league phase runs from September 14, 2026, to February 17, 2027.
The competition will culminate in Saudi Arabia, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final scheduled to be played there from April 23 to May 1, 2027.
Al Nassr will therefore have little margin for error during the league phase as they attempt to secure a place among the leading eight teams in the West region.
For Ronaldo, meanwhile, the campaign represents another opportunity to chase the continental title that has so far eluded him with Al Nassr.
Ticket details
Tickets for the two UAE fixtures have not yet been released, according to current reports. Season-ticket holders at both Al Ain and Shabab Al Ahli have been given access arrangements, while details of wider public sales are expected to be announced by the respective clubs.