On 14 October 2026, Al Ittihad reported that the UAE Pro League had postponed round seven as the league calendar was coordinated with the national team's Asian Cup preparations. New dates have not been set. The closest proposed window falls after the tournament.
The postponed fixtures had been scheduled across 29-30 October and 1 November 2026.
Round eight remains on the calendar for 7 and 8 November.
After those matches, national-team players are due to join a closed camp in Abu Dhabi from 9 to 17 November. The nine-day camp includes two international friendlies. The league has not confirmed when the rearranged fixtures will be played.
The Asian Cup begins in Saudi Arabia on 6 January 2027. Current planning includes a proposal for a longer national-team gathering in late December, before the team travels to Saudi Arabia. The additional time is intended to give the coaching staff more room to work with players and make final squad selections. That proposal forms part of the coordination between the league calendar and the national team's programme.
International duty can affect club schedules, as shown by players returning to club fixtures after a national-team break. Round seven is the affected league round, and its replacement dates have yet to be announced.
