United Arab Emirates football clubs have made notable strides in the early stages of the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Elite, with two of the country’s three participants achieving important wins in the second matchweek, while one team suffered defeat.

Al Ain demonstrated a commanding performance on Monday, defeating Iraqi side Al Quwa Al Jawiya 4-1 on their home turf. This followed their opening round 4-0 victory against Saudi club Al Nassr, signalling a strong start to their continental campaign. Kaku opened the scoring in the 13th minute, followed by an own goal from Al Quwa Al Jawiya defender Saed Al-Roussan five minutes later. El Houssine Rahimi further extended the lead with two first-half goals, effectively securing the win before the away side scored a consolation goal in the 89th minute. With eight goals scored and just one conceded over two matches, Al Ain currently tops the West Region group standings on goal difference.

Shabab Al Ahli also secured a vital win on Tuesday, overcoming Saudi side Al Ittihad 2-1 in Jeddah. Both goals for the UAE club came from Iranian forward Sardar Azmoun, whose contributions proved decisive at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. This victory capped a perfect six points from their first two fixtures, positioning Shabab Al Ahli as strong contenders within the West Region group. The triumph away from home against a prominent Saudi Pro League opponent highlights the club’s competitive stature on the Asian stage.

Conversely, Al Wasl experienced a setback as they fell 3-1 at home to defending champions Al Ahli Saudi on Monday. This result prevented a clean sweep of victories for UAE clubs in the second matchweek.

Overall, the performances of Al Ain and Shabab Al Ahli underscore the UAE Pro League’s increasing competitiveness in Asian club football, with both sides demonstrating their capacity to challenge established regional rivals early in the tournament.