United Arab Emirates Football Association (UAEFA) have officially appointed Croatian coach Zlatko Dalić as the new head coach of the UAE national team, replacing Romanian manager Cosmin Olăroiu.
The appointment marks the beginning of a new era for the UAE, with Dalić expected to lead the “White” through a long-term project aimed at achieving qualification for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The UAEFA announced the appointment through an official video accompanied by the message:
“A new chapter filled with ambitions… Welcome, Zlatko Dalić.”
The federation has yet to officially confirm the length of Dalić’s contract. The details are expected to be revealed during a press conference at the UAEFA headquarters in Dubai.
However, reports indicate that the Croatian could sign a four-year contract, potentially taking him through the 2030 World Cup qualification cycle.
The appointment represents a return to familiar territory for the 59-year-old coach.
Dalić previously managed Al Ain from 2014 to 2017, enjoying one of the most successful periods of his club coaching career in the UAE.
During his time at Al Ain, he guided the club to domestic league and cup titles while also leading the team to the 2016 AFC Champions League final, where they finished runners-up.
His return to the UAE comes with considerably greater international recognition than when he first arrived in 2014.
At that time, Dalić had just completed a season with Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia. Since leaving Al Ain in 2017 to take charge of Croatia, he has established himself as one of the most respected coaches in international football.
Dalić’s biggest achievements have come with Croatia.
Under his leadership, Croatia reached the 2018 FIFA World Cup final in Russia, producing a historic run before losing 4-2 to France in the championship decider.
Four years later, Dalić once again guided Croatia deep into the World Cup, securing third place at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Those achievements transformed Dalić into a globally recognised coach and cemented his reputation as a manager capable of building competitive international teams.
He left the Croatian national team in July following their elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32, where Croatia suffered a 2-1 defeat to Portugal.
The UAEFA had already signalled its intention to strengthen its coaching structure by appointing another Croatian coach, Igor Bišćan, as head coach of the UAE Olympic team.
The move is viewed as part of a broader strategy to establish a unified Croatian coaching philosophy across the UAE national teams.
With Dalić now taking charge of the senior side and Bišćan leading the Olympic programme, the UAEFA hopes to create greater continuity between its national-team age groups.
Dalić’s primary long-term objective will be to guide the UAE toward qualification for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The UAE have yet to establish themselves as regular participants at the world’s biggest football tournament, making the appointment a significant statement of ambition from the federation.
Dalić brings extensive experience of managing high-pressure international campaigns, having already led Croatia through two World Cups and multiple major international tournaments.
Credit Photo : FIFA
