From Dubai to Jordan. From Jordan to Uzbekistan. From domestic champions to the international stage.
After a month of almost non-stop football, training and travel, Banaat FC’s first international journey has officially come to an end.
What began in July with the WAFF Women’s Club Championship in Jordan continued into August with the AFC Women’s Champions League Preliminary Stage in Uzbekistan, marking the first time in club history that Banaat FC had competed outside the UAE.
And while the final result in Qarshi was a difficult one, one result does not define this journey.
More Than the Results
Banaat FC’s international debut brought a mixture of results and experiences.
In Jordan, the team opened their WAFF campaign with a 4–0 victory over Beirut Football Academy, followed by a narrow 3–2 defeat to Etihad Club. Despite the loss, Banaat FC progressed to the semi-finals on goal difference, where they faced Al Hilal in a hard-fought 2–1 defeat.
Just weeks later, Banaat FC stepped onto Asia’s biggest club stage in Uzbekistan.
The AWCL Preliminary Stage began with a 1–1 draw against Royal Thimphu College FC, followed by a commanding 9–0 victory over Master FC. The campaign concluded against host club PFC Nasaf, with Banaat FC suffering a difficult 7–0 defeat.
Three AFC matches. Four points. One draw, one emphatic win and one tough loss.
But the numbers only tell part of the story.
The experience of competing internationally: against new opposition, in new environments and at a different level of competition provided invaluable lessons for the players and staff.
Banaat FC Didn't Just Go to Play. They went to Represent.
For Banaat FC, this journey meant more than football.
As a Dubai-based, Arab-identifying women's football club, the opportunity to represent Banaat FC, Dubai and the UAE on the international stage carried a significance that extended beyond the pitch.
They weren't simply traveling to play. They were traveling to represent.
To step onto the AFC Women’s Champions League stage was a particularly significant milestone for women's football in the UAE. Banaat FC became only the second UAE club to qualify for the competition, taking the club from its grassroots beginnings to one of the biggest stages in Asian women's club football in just three seasons.
For some players, the journey represented their first international appearances. For others, it was an opportunity to make an international return. For everyone involved, it was a chance to experience what it means to compete beyond the UAE and to understand the level that lies ahead.
From Grassroots to Asia
Only three seasons ago, Banaat FC was beginning its journey.
The ambition was to build a competitive women's football club and challenge for honors in the UAE.
By the end of the 2025/26 season, that ambition had become reality.
2025/26 UAE Women’s Football League Champions.
2025/26 Inaugural UAE Women’s Super Cup Champions.
WAFF Women’s Club Championship semi-finalists.
AFC Women’s Champions League competitors.
And on 28 August 2026, just days after returning from Uzbekistan, Banaat FC celebrated its third anniversary.
Three years.
From grassroots beginnings to representing the UAE internationally. From aspiring to win the league to actually lifting the trophy.
The international journey has shown how far the club has come, while also giving us a clearer picture of how much further there is still to go.
What the Players Take Away
Perhaps the best reflection of the journey comes from the players themselves.
For Aisha Namukisa, the difficult moments are simply part of football: “It is normal, it happens. That's football, we bear with any result.”
For Sabrine Mamay, the disappointment has become motivation: “I hate losing, but sometimes you have to go through it so you can get back stronger.”
For Areej Alhammadi, the value came from testing Banaat FC against a higher level: “The level is really high. It is always nice to play against these top level teams, because you see what the level is at and how you want to play.”
And for Rayana Issa, the experience created a milestone of her own: “I am very happy I made my Champions League debut at such a young age. It has been such an amazing experience to be able to do it with a team like this.”
Away from football itself, the journey also brought the squad closer together.
As Safiatu Salifu put it: “I enjoyed annoying them and teasing them. All of us together.”
Those moments matter too. The team meals, outings, training sessions, recovery, travel and time spent together became part of a month that none of the players will forget.
The Journey Home
Following the final match in Qarshi, the team began the journey back to Dubai.
A scenic train journey offered one final chance to see more of Uzbekistan, take in its scenery and reflect on everything that had happened over the previous weeks before continuing the journey by air. After a month of constant football, training and travel, the journey home provided a welcome opportunity to slow down.
There was pride in what had been achieved. There were lessons to take home.
And, perhaps most importantly, there was finally a chance to rest. The bags returned a little heavier, but so did the experience.
Thank You
None of this would have been possible without the people and organizations behind the journey.
Thank you to the institutions, football associations and organizers, AFC and WAFF, who made Banaat FC’s participation in both competitions possible.
To our gracious hosts in Jordan and Uzbekistan, and to the respective football associations, thank you for welcoming us, providing facilities and helping make our first international experiences so memorable.
To our coaches and technical staff, thank you for the preparation, guidance and work throughout both competitions.
To our administration and operations team, thank you for everything that happened behind the scenes to make the journey possible.
To every player who travelled, trained and competed and to those who continued to train, support the squad and push their teammates even when their opportunities on match day were limited — thank you.
And to our supporters, families and wider Banaat FC community, thank you for following us from Dubai to Jordan and Uzbekistan and for continuing to believe in what this club is building.
This journey belonged to all of us.
The Next Chapter
The international journey may be over, but its impact will carry forward.
The training, competition, travel, challenges and experiences gained across Jordan and Uzbekistan will become part of Banaat FC's preparation for the upcoming season.
We now know more about ourselves. We know more about the level we are aspiring towards.
And we know what it takes to compete on the international stage.
The goal is no longer simply to reach it once. The goal is to keep building towards returning.
Three seasons have passed.
A fourth is almost here. The defending champions return this October — with a new season, new challenges and new ambitions ahead.
From grassroots beginnings to UAE champions.
From UAE champions to international competitors.
From Dubai to West Asia.
From West Asia to Asia's biggest stage.
This was our first international chapter.
It will not be our last.
Stay tuned for Banaat FC’s return.
