Al Ain Secure UAE Pro League Title After Defeating Sharjah by 5-0

Al Ain have been crowned champions of the 2025–26 UAE Pro League for a record-extending 15th time, sealing the title with two matches remaining after a resounding 5-0 victory over Sharjah on Wednesday night, May 6. 

The Garden City club’s dominance was on full display as Abdoul Karim Traore, Kodjo Laba, Erik, Soufiane Rahimi, and Rami Rabia all found the net in a performance that left little doubt about their superiority this season. The emphatic win came even as second-placed Shabab Al Ahli could only manage a 2-1 draw against city rivals Al Nasr, effectively ending any realistic challenge for the title.

Under Pro League tiebreaking rules, head-to-head results take precedence over goal difference. Having defeated Shabab Al Ahli in both league encounters this season, Al Ain needed only this victory to mathematically guarantee the championship—even if their rivals were to catch them on points.

From the opening whistle, Al Ain controlled the tempo. Traore, their midfield dynamo, opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a powerful header from a right-sided free-kick. Kodjo Laba doubled the lead just before halftime, glancing a header into the far corner from a cross at the near post.

The second half saw Al Ain pull further away. Erik, the UAE international left-back, capitalized on a defensive lapse to score his rare league goal. Soufiane Rahimi, the Moroccan forward who previously led Al Ain to AFC Champions League glory, added the fourth with a striking effort from the edge of the box before sprinting to celebrate with traveling supporters and goalkeeper-captain Khalid Essa. Defender Rami Rabia completed the rout with a close-range header, capping off a night of clinical finishing.

The result marks a triumphant rebound for Al Ain, who had suffered a rare setback in the Adib Cup final against Al Wahda in a heated Abu Dhabi clash just days earlier. Now, with two league games remaining, the club aims to complete an unbeaten league campaign—a feat that would further cement their status as the dominant force in Emirati football.

Attention now turns to the President’s Cup final on May 22, where Al Ain will face Al Jazira in a bid to secure a domestic double. Should they succeed, they will join Shabab Al Ahli (last season) and Al Wasl (the season prior) in continuing a recent trend of consecutive doubles in the UAE.

With their 15th league title secured, Al Ain have once again proven why they remain the benchmark in the nation’s top flight.