The Red Knights have won the competition eight times since it was first played in the 1974-75 season and one more win would see them claim a record haul.
Ahli currently share the record with Sharjah and Khalil insists the trophy has been as much of a priority for the Dubai side this season as regaining the league title from Al Ain.
“We have now achieved our first target, which was to take the league and that was important for us,” said the 24-year-old striker.
“We fought throughout this year and wanted to make sure we took the league, but there is another target in which we have to fight and have to work towards, and that’s the President’s Cup.
“Hopefully we’ll fight for this because we all want to win it.
“Everybody wants the President’s Cup and we now have the chance.
“We have to work, because now everybody thinks about the President’s Cup.”
A dismal defence of their 2013-14 title last season was overcome by a brilliant run to the final of the AFC Champions League final.
Ahli fell agonisingly short, defeated 1-0 on aggregate by China’s Guangzhou Evergrande, yet personal glory would later arrive for Khalil, who was named Asian Player of the Year, ahead of UAE colleague Omar Abdulrahman.
Ambitious Khalil admits the continental competition gave him a taste a year ago and is also a target again for the Red Knights next season.
“The important thing this year was we played very well, (having) had so much pressure to deal with from the first game, because we also played in the Asian Champions League,” said the man with seven AGL goals this season.
“But thankfully we continued on our path to take the league and we have to continue again.
“That (Champions League) is another target, we have to continue.
“I’m happy to win the best player and at the same time we won the league.
“(Now) I hope we win the President’s Cup. We want more and we focus more.
“The important thing is to work, work hard every day, every hour, every minute. This is important for me if I want to bring out the best in me.
“I like every time to do my best and for me it never stops.
“Hopefully every year I want to take everything, achieve new things.”