The 2016 AFC Awards ceremony took place on Thursday at the Emirates Palace Hotels in Abu Dhabi.

UAE’s attacking midfielder Omar Abdulrahman won the AFC Player of the Year 2016 Award. The 25-year-old has been instrumental for both club and country this year, steering UAE club Al Ain to this year’s AFC Champions League final.

He also led UAE to the third round of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 Asian Qualifiers and has featured in all of his side’s matches thus far.

Abdulrahman said: “I would like to thank the people of the United Arab Emirates, this achievement is a national achievement. This award is for the UAE national team and Al Ain. It is the second year in a row that the award goes to a player from the UAE, it’s prove that we have talented players.”

Australia’s Caitlin Foord edged out compatriot Lisa de Vanna and China’s Tan Ruyin to capture the 2016 award in the women’s category.

Foord said: “I would like to congratulate the other nominees, Lisa and Tan, for an amazing year. I wasn’t expecting this, thank you to the AFC and congratulations to everyone in Abu Dhabi for hosting this wonderful event. I accept this award on behalf of all the Matildas.”

Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Issa Hayatou was presented the Diamond of Asia 2016 award in recognition for more than 42 years of outstanding contribution to the development and promotion of football, both on and off the field.

Below is the complete list of winners at the AFC Annual Awards 2016:

AFC Diamond of Asia Award: Issa Hayatou
AFC Dream Asia Award: Qatar Football Association
AFC Inspiring Member Association of the Year: Japan Football Association
AFC Developing Member Association of the Year: All India Football Federation
AFC Aspiring Member Association of the Year: Bhutan Football Federation
AFC President Recognition Awards for Grassroots Football (Inspiring): Football Federation Australia
AFC President Recognition Awards for Grassroots Football (Developing): Philippines Football Federation
AFC President Recognition Awards for Grassroots Football (Aspiring): National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam
AFC Coach of the Year (Men): Choi Kang Hee (KOR)
AFC Coach of the Year (Women): Chan Yuen Ting (HKG)
AFC Special Recognition Award: Makoto Teguramori (JPN)
AFC Player of the Year (Men): Omar Abdulrahman (UAE)
AFC Player of the Year (Women): Caitlin Foord (AUS)
AFC Futsal Player of the Year: Aliasghar Hasanzadeh (IRN)
AFC Youth Player of the Year (Men): Ritsu Doan (JPN)
AFC Youth Player of the Year (Women): Fuka Nagano (JPN)
AFC Asian International Player of the Year: Shinji Okazaki (JPN & Leicester City FC)
The AFC Referees Special Award (Men): Alireza Faghani (IRN), Reza Sokhandan (IRN), Mohammad Reza Mansouri (IRN)