Al Ain will kick off their Arabian Gulf League title defence at home to Al Dhafra after the fixtures list for the 2015/16 was released on Sunday night.
While exact dates for the first round of matches are yet to be finalised, the new season will begin August 20-22.
Al Ain will face their first big test in the second round when they travel to a resurgent Al Wasl, whose late season push saw the Dubai club finish sixth in the table.
Round 3 will play host to two derbies when last year’s runners-up Al Jazira host fellow Abu Dhabi side Al Wahda, while Al Nasr will travel to Dubai rivals Al Wasl. Both return fixtures will be contested in the 16th round.
A first battle between last season’s top two will take place in Round 7 when Al Ain face Al Jazira, with the corresponding match scheduled for Round 20.
Al Ahli, the 2014 champions, face a tough run of fixtures starting in Round 9 when they host Al Jazira before travelling to Al Ain, and ending with a home game against Al Nasr — the team they lost to in the President’s Cup final — in Round 11.
Once dates are confirmed, we will update accordingly.
MORE ARABIAN GULF LEAGUE NEWS
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Cosmin Olaroiu calm on Al Ahli’s striker search despite new season looming large
Emmanuel Emenike ‘does not worry’ about replacing Asamoah Gyan at Al Ain
ROUND 1 FIXTURES
Dibba v Al Wahda, Fujairah Stadium
Al Shabab v Sharjah, Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium
Al Jazira v Al Wasl, Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium
Al Ain v Al Dhafra, Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium
Al Nasr v Emirates, Al Maktoum Stadium
Al Ahli v Fujairah, Rashid Stadium
Al Shaab v Baniyas, Khaled Bin Mohamed Stadium
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