Abdulrahman, 25, has been in sensational form for club and country during 2016, winning eight out of 12 man-of-the-match gongs on Al Ain’s path to the 2016 AFC Champions League final and keeping the UAE in contention to qualify for World Cup 2018.
China and Shanghai SIPG winger Wu Lei, plus Iraq and Air Force Club striker Hammadi Ahmed are also in contention for the prize, which will be handed out at a gala event at Emirates Palace Hotel on December 1.
‘Amoory’ last year finished third behind Al Ahli forward Ahmed Khalil, who made history as the first UAE international to earn the accolade.
The outstanding trio of female footballers this year was also revealed, with Australian pair Caitlin Foord and Lisa de Vanna, as well as China’s Tan Ruyin, named on the shortlist.
Abdulrahman has swept up several local and international trophies before, including the 2015 Al-Ahram Arab Player of the Year and three Arabian Gulf League Emirati of the Year gongs. A victory on home soil would see the much-heralded former Manchester City trialist gain continental recognition.
In competition, Wu has won the Chinese Super League Golden Boot – which recognises native players – four times. His most-recent success came in 2016, where a tally of 14 strikes in 30 matches put him five ahead of his nearest countryman. Wu is the all-time top scorer for SIPG, with 114 goals.
Ahmed performed a decisive role as Air Force Club lifted this season’s AFC Cup, being both the top scorer and Most Valuable Player.
Here are some of the nominees’ best moments:
OMAR ABDULRAHMAN (Al-Ain)
HAMMADI AHMED (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya)
WU LEI (Shanghai SIPG)
CAITLIN FOORD (Sydney FC)
LISA DE VANNA (Orlando Pride)
TAN RUYIN (Guangdong Lottery)