Emirati clubs made a significant presence in the fifth round of the AFC Champions League Elite, achieving excellent results by winning all their matches and securing a perfect score, which reaffirmed the strength of their continental participation this season. Al-Wahda secured early qualification to the Round of 16 with three rounds remaining in the group stage, while Shabab Al-Ahli and Sharjah are on the verge of advancing, thanks to their improving form. The fifth round served as a major boost for the three clubs, as they each earned the maximum points, with clear indications of an exceptional Asian season that is putting Emirati clubs back in the circle of serious contenders for the title, which was won by Al Ain in the previous season. The fourth round had marked the lowest point for Emirati clubs since the start of the competition, as the teams collected only three points following losses for Shabab Al-Ahli and Sharjah, and a win for Al-Wahda. The 'Yellow' was the standout performer, continuing their continental brilliance after returning to the tournament after a four-year absence, securing a big 3-1 victory over Qatari side Al-Sadd and officially booking their place in the Round of 16. 'The Happy Ones' reclaimed some of their historical glory through this achievement, especially considering their last participation in 2021 ended in the quarter-finals after a loss to Saudi side Al-Nasr, while the 2007 edition remains the club's best, when they reached the semi-finals and were eliminated by Sepahan. This season, Al-Wahda has shown a more mature version, collecting 13 points from four wins and a draw, without tasting defeat, scoring 10 goals and conceding only four, showcasing defensive solidity and tactical discipline that have made them one of the most stable teams in the West Asian group, which is led by Saudi side Al-Hilal with a perfect score. Meanwhile, Shabab Al-Ahli regained their strong presence in the tournament after a heavy and unexpected 4-1 loss to Qatari side Al-Duhail in the previous round. Dubai's 'Knights' showed clear resilience in the fifth round and managed a well-deserved 2-0 clean sheet victory over Qatari side Al-Gharafa, lifting their tally to 10 points and moving to fifth place, practically placing them on the doorstep of qualification, pending confirmation in the remaining three rounds, where they need three points to advance to the next round. As for Sharjah, they have re-entered the qualification race, returning from Saudi Arabia with a victory that is considered the most valuable for them in the competition by defeating Al-Ittihad of Jeddah, raising their tally to seven points from two wins, a draw, and two losses, moving to seventh place, level on points with Qatari side Al-Duhail in sixth. Sharjah had gone through a period of fluctuation after a strong start in the first two rounds, before entering something of a 'technical slump' in the third and fourth rounds, which affected their results, prompting the club's administration to dismiss Serbian coach Milos Milojkovic and appoint Abdelmajid Al-Namr as his replacement in search of restoring stability. Sharjah achieved what they wanted from the changes, showing an impressive level under the guidance of their national coach Abdelmajid Al-Namr, which has put 'The King' back in the race for qualification, awaiting matches of heavy weight against Al-Hilal, Al-Duhail, and Nasaf in their remaining three group stage matches.
