Royal FC[1][2] is a professional football club based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The club was founded in 2021 and competes in the UAE 2nd Division .[3]

Royal FC Dubai
Nickname(s)Royal FC
Founded2021
StadiumUIS International
OwnerMohamed Boghdady
LeagueUAE second Division League
2023–244th Position
WebsiteClub website
Current season

History

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Royal FC[4] quickly rose through the ranks of UAE football, starting in the UAE Third Division League and winning the championship to secure promotion to the 2nd Division in their inaugural 2022–2023 season.[5][6][7][8] In the following season, they were contenders for promotion to the 1st Division, narrowly missing out by a few points. Notable achievements include producing the highest goal scorer in their division, Ousseynou Tall,[9] who has prior experience in the Argentine Primera División.

Management

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Royal FC's management comprises prominent figures in the football and sports industry:

  • Ali Bujsaim: A retired UAE international association football referee, best known for supervising matches at three FIFA World Cups. He currently serves as the President of the UAE Sports Arbitration Centre.
  • Mohamed Boghdady:[10] An Egyptian sports investor, former Feyenoord Rotterdam Dutch club agent, and former Sport Benfica e Castelo Branco marketing director, brings valuable experience and insights to Royal FC's management team.
  • Mohamed Mohsen Abo Gresha: A former international football player for Ismaily SC and the Egyptian national team, Mohamed Mohsen Abo Gresha transitioned into coaching after his playing career. He has coached many clubs in different countries and currently serves as the head coach for Royal FC's first team.

Current squad [11]

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 MF   BEL Ahmed sameer Habibzai
2 FW   CHA Bobandi Lakein
3 MF   GHA David Agormeda
4 MF   SEN Dieme Gerard
5 FW   SEN Dieng Cheikh
6 DF   CIV Doukoure Dylan
7 GK   EGY Islam Abouelmagd
8 DF   MAR Jihad Alghandour
9 DF   CMR Landry Kamwa
10 FW   EGY Mahmoud Ali
11 GK   EGY Ahmed Elboghdady
No. Pos. Nation Player
12 DF   CIV Mickael Gnamien
13 MF   EGY Mohamed Elagamy
14 MF   EGY Ahmed Mekawy
15 MF   SEN Ndiaye Diop
16 MF   CIV Ness Wilfried Meless
17 MF   ITA Nicola Zagaria
18 FW   CIV Nurudeen Salami
19 DF   EGY Omar Hassan Ahmed
20 FW   EGY Omar Ezat Ahmed
21 FW   SEN Ousseynou Tall
22 FW   LBR Sanney Geleya Carlos

Club philosophy

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Royal FC embodies modern football ideologies, blending European football strategies with a Middle Eastern flair. The club has not only attracted a significant fan base but also established multiple academies across the UAE and expanded with branches in Egypt, showcasing their commitment to football development.[12]

Future plans

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Royal FC is committed to continuous development and innovation in youth football in the UAE. One of their most exciting future plans is the launch of a full residential program in Dubai, UAE[13] that combines football training with education. This program, the first of its kind in the UAE, will provide aspiring young footballers with a comprehensive environment to nurture their talents and academic development. While further details about the program are likely forthcoming, its introduction highlights Royal FC's dedication to pushing the boundaries of youth football development in the UAE.

References

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  1. ^ "UAE Football Association: Royal FC". www.uaefa.ae. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  2. ^ "Royal FC - Soccer - Team Profile - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  3. ^ "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  4. ^ RoyalFC (2023-04-27). Nile Sport NEWS. Retrieved 2024-05-21 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ "UAE Football Association: Royal FC Champions". www.uaefa.ae. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  6. ^ FilGoal (2023-04-27). "بملكية مصرية.. رويال يتأهل إلى دوري الدرجة الثانية الإماراتي". FilGoal.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  7. ^ "حكاية نادي رويال الطامح لكتابة التاريخ في الإمارات". يلاكورة.كوم (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  8. ^ فضل, متابعة-محمد (2023-05-02). "رويال.. خطوة في طريق النجاح". www.albayan.ae (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  9. ^ "UAE Football Association: Top Scorer". www.uaefa.ae. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  10. ^ Sada Elbalad - صدى البلد (2023-05-08). محمد بغدادي يوضح رؤية نادي رويال الأمراتي الموسم القادم. Retrieved 2024-05-21 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ "UAE Football Association: Royal FC Squad". www.uaefa.ae. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  12. ^ ONTime Sports (2022-10-03). رئيس نادي رويال الإماراتي: استفدنا بشكل كبير جدا فنيا وتسويقيا من مواجهة فريق بحجم بيراميدز. Retrieved 2024-05-21 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ "Royal FC Residential Football Academy". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-06-07.