Paul Oberjuerge
Champions Al Ahli return the key performers from a side who nearly won an unprecedented treble and have added Habib Fardan to their roster of elite Emiratis. Factor in Cosmin Olaroiu, who has managed the past three league champions, and Ahli have to be the choice.
Top four Al Ahli, Al Jazira, Al Ain, Al Nasr
Relegated teams Fujairah might have had a chance, had they reeled in Jorge Valdivia. Short on Emirati talent. Kalba were perhaps the most consistently solid Division One side. Overmatched in the top flight, however.
Most likely to win one of the cups Al Nasr. Coach Ivan Jovanovic has strong credentials. He took Apoel of Cyprus to the quarter-finals of the Uefa Champions League, and he will win something this season.
Top scorer Asamoah Gyan has led the league the past three seasons, and at 27 he is still in his prime and plays for an elite side.
Emirati player of the year Amer Abdulrahman, healthy again, will show his value by leading what has seemed a dull and lifeless Baniyas back into the upper half of the league.
Foreign player of the year Grafite shows no signs of slowing at age 35, and with no international commitments to wear him down, he should be the best of the best again this season.
Amith Passela
Champions Never out of the top four in a decade and with 17 players on UAE national teams (senior, Olympic, and U19) rosters, along with four top-notch foreigners, Al Jazira are the team to beat.
Top four Al Jazira, Al Wahda, Al Ain, Al Ahli
Relegated teams Fujairah were relegated in the first two seasons they earned promotions and may suffer a similar fate a third time. Kalba were the second team to earn promotion, but they, too, do not have the depth to sustain a serious challenge to remain in the top flight.
Most likely to win one of the cups Al Wahda may fall short of a fifth league title, but they are likely to end their trophy drought of five years by winning either the President's Cup or the Arabian Gulf Cup.
Top scorer Sebastian Tagliabue can go one better than his debut season. The Argentine hit the net 28 times to finish one behind Al Ain’s Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan, the three-time league top scorer.
Emirati player of the year Jazira's holding midfielder Khamis Ismail is not flamboyant, but his work is appreciated by his teammates and the technical staff. He can be a contender after being overlooked in the last two seasons.
Foreign player of the year Manuel Lanzini has already impressed at Al Jazira's camp in Switzerland and in the club's friendly tournament. The Argentine, 21, is set to play a central role with his speed, creativity and scoring ability.
John McAuley
Champions Al Ain. Asian Champions League may initially be a distraction, but Al Ain have a strong enough squad to cope. Their starting XI is the league's best. Still hurting from last year, they will make up for it this season.
Top four Al Ain, Al Ahli, Al Jazira, Al Nasr
Relegated teams Kalba. The promoted side have been here twice before and struggled. Typically slow starters, they will be cut adrift relatively early on. Emirates. Usually relegation fodder. A leaky defence has not been fortified, while an ageing foreign contingent will not have the legs to carry survival hopes.
Most likely to win one of the cups Al Jazira. President’s Cup winners in 2011 and 2012, the Abu Dhabi side will add their third this year. Have recruited well, but the local contingent is not strong enough for league title. A cup is well within reach, though.
Top scorer Asamoah Gyan. A predictable choice, but the stats do not lie. The Al Ain striker has three Golden Boots in the UAE and has been in superb form this summer. He has 82 goals in 66 league matches.
Emirati player of the year Omar Abdulrahman. Again, not exactly a shock. But the Al Ain playmaker excelled these past few months and, if he stays injury free, will be the catalyst in another UAE title run. When on form, nobody comes close.
Foreign player of the year Manuel Lanzini. The Argentine playmaker has impressed since moving to Al Jazira this summer. Quick, tricky and with sublime technique, he will star for a club definitely on the up. Will link well with Mirko Vucinic.
Ahmed Rizvi
Champions Al Ain. With Omar Abdulrahman, Jires Kembo Ekoko, Miroslav Stoch and Lee Myung-joo in the midfield, and attack-minded Asamoah Gyan up front, Al Ain boast fearsome firepower and, in this league, an almost a sure recipe for success.
Top four Al Ain, Al Jazira, Al Ahli, Al Nasr
Relegated Given their track record in the top division, Kalba will struggle to keep their place. Emirates have been struggling financially in recent times, and that could affect the team’s performance adversely.
Most likely to win one of the cups Al Nasr. With not many of their players, Emiratis or expats, expecting a call to report for national duty, Nasr will have an advantage in terms of fresh legs and, in well-regarded manager Ivan Jovanovic, they have a man to translate that into success.
Top scorer Asamoah Gyan. Owner of the Golden Boot for three consecutive seasons, Gyan should be able to retain it. The Africa Cup of Nations could be a distraction, but he will not miss too many matches due to the Asian Cup break.
Emirati player of the year Omar Abdulrahman. The Al Ain star has a busy season ahead, with both club and country, and that could be draining. But as the Asian Champions League quarter-finals have shown, when Abdulrahman is healthy, he is the man for big moments.
Foreign player of the year Mirko Vucinic. Respected in Italy for his dribbling skills and creativity, the former Roma and Juventus star could provide the wow factor this season. Al Jazira fans can expect stunning goals from the classy Montenegrin.
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