All women's football team Onyx FC in Dubai - in pictures

  • Onyx football club is the first and only fully female owned football club in the UAE. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Onyx football club is the first and only fully female owned football club in the UAE. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Players warm-up ahead of their match.
    Players warm-up ahead of their match.
  • The club also wants to be a space for women to make friends and enjoy social events such as hiking, beach days and bowling.
    The club also wants to be a space for women to make friends and enjoy social events such as hiking, beach days and bowling.
  • Onyx FC women's programme is open to all ages and abilities.
    Onyx FC women's programme is open to all ages and abilities.
  • The football club is in Dubai.
    The football club is in Dubai.
  • They consider themselves a community that's open to all women from different backgrounds, nationalities and religions.
    They consider themselves a community that's open to all women from different backgrounds, nationalities and religions.
  • Onyx FC won the 2021 Arabian Women's Football League.
    Onyx FC won the 2021 Arabian Women's Football League.
  • The club has no male involvement at all.
    The club has no male involvement at all.
  • Onyx head coach Lauren McMurchie watches on during a match in the Expat Football Association league.
    Onyx head coach Lauren McMurchie watches on during a match in the Expat Football Association league.
  • Onyx FC's belief system is centred around community and female empowerment.
    Onyx FC's belief system is centred around community and female empowerment.
  • An Onyx player gets ready for a match.
    An Onyx player gets ready for a match.
  • The team has female coaches who have played professional football in other countries.
    The team has female coaches who have played professional football in other countries.
  • Head coach Lauren McMurchie talks to the team before their match at Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai.
    Head coach Lauren McMurchie talks to the team before their match at Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai.
  • Players take a break before the match starts.
    Players take a break before the match starts.
  • The founders of Onyx FC: Georgia Adderley, Lauren McMurchie, Lisa Hayhoe and Hind Al Zarouni at Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai.
    The founders of Onyx FC: Georgia Adderley, Lauren McMurchie, Lisa Hayhoe and Hind Al Zarouni at Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai.
  • Members of Onyx football club in training.
    Members of Onyx football club in training.
  • 'We wanted to create Onyx FC to provide a community and a true women’s football club for all ages and levels,' says Georgia Adderley.
    'We wanted to create Onyx FC to provide a community and a true women’s football club for all ages and levels,' says Georgia Adderley.
  • A team huddle before the match.
    A team huddle before the match.
  • The Onyx football team poses ahead of their match in Dubai for International Women's Day.
    The Onyx football team poses ahead of their match in Dubai for International Women's Day.