Omar Abdulrahman Ahmed Al Raaki Al Amoudi (; born 20 September 1991) is a former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder or a winger. Born in Saudi Arabia, he represented the United Arab Emirates at international levels.
Coming through the youth system, Abdulrahman made his senior debut for Al Ain in the 2008–09 season. In his first season, he won the Etisalat Cup, President's Cup and Super Cup. Despite suffering a cruciate ligament injury in the following season which sidelined him for over six months, he became a first team regular and helped his club to avoid relegation in the 2010–11 season. He finished the season with 11 goals in 29 appearances, and was voted the most promising player of the year. In the 2011–12 season, Abdulrahman suffered the same injury again and was out for six months, he returned from the injury to see his club crowned champions of the league. After a two-week trial with Manchester City, he returned to Al Ain to become a key player in the 2012–13 season and was voted Emirati Player of the Year, as his side achieved the 2012 Super Cup and league title.
ESPN FC ranked Abdulrahman first in the Top ten Asian players of 2012. In 2013, Abdulrahman was listed by FIFA in the most promising future stars in Asia. Abdulrahman was ranked thirty-nine on the Goal 50 list for the best 50 players of the 2012–13 season.
Early life Omar Abdulrahman was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Yemeni parents, growing up there in a working-class environment. His father Abdulrahman Ahmed was a former player, he has two older sisters and three older brothers, Ahmad, Khaled and Mohammed. He is from the Al-Amoudi family, a Hadhrami Mashaikh family descending from 13th century Sufi saint, Sa'eed ibn Isa Al-Amoudi.Al-Nakhabi, Abdullah bin Ahmed (1426 AH). The Selected Saying on the News of the Al-Amoudi Family (PDF) . Amman, Jordan: Dar Al-Fath. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-08-04. He spent sometimes playing soccer in Riyadh neighborhoods.
He drew attention from scout Abdulrahman Eissa who saw him by chance at Al Malaz yard near Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium and asked about the club that he played for. The answer was that he was not playing for any club and also did not hold Saudi nationality. After Abdulrahman Eissa began to contact him and his brother, he then began participating in tournaments and courses alongside Yahya Al-Shehri.
In 2000, he went on a trial with Al Hilal who were interested in signing him. However, as full Saudi nationality was only offered to him and not his entire family, his father rejected the offer.
Then a call came to Abdulrahman Eissa's friend Ahmed Al Garoon from Honorary member of Al Ain, Nasser bin Thaloub who was searching for young talented players. Abdulrahman Eissa told him about Abdulrahman's talent and his brothers Mohammed and Khalid. He asked for their passports and they joined the external Al Ain camp in Germany. Al Ain agreed to grant the Emirati passport to his whole family who then moved to the United Arab Emirates. Abdulrahman joined the club with two of his brothers and enrolled in Al Ain's youth academy.
Club career Al Ain Abdulrahman joined Al Ain Academy in 2008, and has played for Al Ain's under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19 and reserve team. He was promoted to the first team by coach Winfried Schäfer after he saw him at the Al Ain International Under-17 Football tournament in 2009. His official debut with the first team was against Al Ahli on 24 January 2009 in Etisalat Cup. Despite being promoted to the first team, Abdulrahman continued to play for the reserve team. His last match with the reserve team was against Al Nasr on 24 January 2012. He scored 6 goals and Assists 3 in 10 matches over 5 seasons with the reserve.
2008–09 season Abdulrahman made his official debut for the first team on 24 January 2009 at the age of 17 years, in the Etisalat Cup against Al Ahli when he came on as a substitute for Ahmed Khamis in the 77th minute. On 27 March 2009, two months after his debut, he replaced Faisal Ali in the 70th minute in the second leg of the Etisalat Cup semi-final against Al Jazira. Abdulrahman shot the ball on the goal but hit the crossbar, before Dias converted the rebound scoring the only goal in the match. On 3 April 2009, Abdulrahman won his first club honour when Al Ain defeated Al Wahda in the Etisalat Cup final. A week later, on 13 April, he won his second club honour, President's Cup in a 1–0 win against Al Shabab. On 18 April 2009, Abdulrahman made his league debut in a 5–0 victory over Ajman. On 11 May 2009, he scored his first Pro-League goal in a 2–2 draw with Al Ahli, to become the youngest player to score a goal in this season. Followed with another goal against Al Wasl on 15 May, scored the 101st goal for Al Ain in the two clubs matches history. On 24 May 2009, he scored his third league goal in a 2–0 win over Al Shaab.
2009–10 season Before the start of the season, on 26 July 2009, Abdulrahman suffered a cruciate ligament injury during a friendly match against FC Lausanne-Sport with UAE U-20. On 26 February, Abdulrahman played in his first game back from injury in the under-19 youth league against Bani Yas and it ended 4–2 in Al Ain's favor. On 19 March, in a 2–3 win against Al Dhafra, he scored his first goal of the season in the reserve league and helped in two. On 23 April, he scored and helped in another in a 5–0 victory over Al Wasl. Abdulrahman made his Champions League debut in a 2–0 home victory over Sepahan Isfahan. He scored his first Pro-league goals for the season in a 5–3 win over Emirates. On 15 May, he helped the Al Ain reserves win the Reserve League by scoring a brace and helped in another in a 2–6 win against Al Sharjah. He finished the season scoring 5 goals in 7 matches with the under-19, reserve, and first team.
2010–11 season In this season, Abdulrahman became a first team regular, after the departure of Valdivia from the club, he inherited the number 10 jersey. On 28 August 2010, Abdulrahman scored with a free kick and assisted teammate Jose Sand in a 4–3 win at Dubai in his first start of the season. On 20 September 2010, during the second round of the President's Cup, Abdulrahman scored his first goal in the cup in a 5–0 victory over Masfout. He scored a goal from a penalty in a 1–2 defeat to Al Ahli on 30 September, In the match against Al Wasl on 27 October 2010, he assisted another goal for teammate Mohanad Salem to put his team 2–1 ahead but the match ended in a 2–2 draw. In a 1–4 defeat to Ittihad on 30 September he also assisted teammate Faris. He once again assisted teammate Jose Sand in a 1–1 draw against Al Shabab on 23 December 2010. On 12 May 2011, Al Ain announced an extension to Abdulrahman's contract until 2015.
On 1 June 2011, he led his team to beat Al Jazira 4–1 by scoring two goals and assisting the fourth. On 12 June 2011, Abdulrahman was named the Pro-League's most promising player of the Year for the second time by Emirati newspaper Al Ittihad. Abdulrahman ended the season with 11 goals and 8 assists in 29 matches across all competition.
2011–12 season On 15 January, during a match in the Etisalat Reserve League against Ajman, Abdulrahman returned from an injury suffered during the summer camp for the national team which kept him out for six months. This was the second injury he suffered to his cruciate ligament in less than two years. In the following match with the reserve team against Al Nasr he assisted the first goal in a 3–1 win. On 27 January, Abdulrahman played his first match with the first team after his return from injury in a match that Al Ain loss 4–0 from Al Jazira, coming on as a substitute for Mohamed Malallah in the 59th minute. On 24 March, he assist two goals in a 1–4 win against Al Sharjah. On 6 May, he scored the third goal in a 1–4 win against Emirates. In the final league match of the season and crowning the league against Ajman, he assisted two goals and scored another of 0–4.
Manchester City trial On 6 August 2012, Abdulrahman confirmed on Twitter that he would join English side Manchester City on trial. After arriving to Manchester, he immediately joined the team training. The trial lasted for two weeks, he played friendly matches and the report was positive but the deal broke down due to work permit and national team rank issues. On 9 March 2013, Al Ain coach Cosmin Olaroiu stated "City offered him a four-year deal after training with them last summer, and that he would take them up on a second offer." On 11 March, the club's academy chief Brian Marwood, confirmed that they were still interested in Abdulrahman.
2012–13 season After he returned from a trial with Manchester City,Abdulrahman to rejoin Al Ain despite Man City move talk Al Ain confirmed that Abdulrahman would stay with the team for the 2012–13 season. Abdulrahman started the season by lifting UAE Super Cup with Al Ain, after a 5–4 penalty shoot-out win against Al Jazira, where he missed a penalty kick and was named Man of the Match. In the first league match, Abdulrahman provided an assist for new teammate Ekoko to score his first league goal in a 3–6 defeat to Al Ahli on 23 September. He assisted the third goal for teammate defender Fawzi Fayez in a 1–4 win over Ajman. Abdulrahman scored his first Pro-League goal for this season on 15 October, and assisted two goals in a 7–0 victory over Al Dhafra. In a fourth round match and win 5–1 over Dibba Al Fujairah, Abdulrahman assisted Asamoah Gyan to score the fourth goal. Abdulrahman scored his second goal in a 5–0 win over Al Wasl on 3 November. He assisted Ismail Ahmed the third goal of a corner kick in a 2–3 win over Al Shabab. Abdulrahman scored a brace and assisted Mohamed Ahmed to score the first goal, in a 6–0 victory over Ittihad Kalba. Abdulrahman scored another brace in a 2–5 win over Dubai on 23 November. He was named player of the month for November by Al Ain fans. On 16 December against Al Nasr, he provided an assist for Gyan to score the second goal which gave his side a 0–2 away victory.
On 26 January, in Al Ain's first league match of 2013, Abdulrahman scored from a penalty kick and provided an assist for Brosque in a 4–0 against Ajman. In a match that Al Ain loss 1–0 from Dibba Al Fujairah, Abdulrahman came on as a substitute for the first time in this season for Hilal Saeed in the 63rd minute. On 24 February, Abdulrahman confirmed to the media that he received a loan offer from Benfica for a one-year contract. However, Al Ain turned down the offer and pointed for his desire to remain the player for this season. On 27 February, Abdulrahman played against his former club Al-Hilal that he trained with as a youngster in the Champions League Group stage and scored the equaliser 1–1 and provided an assist for Brosque in a 3–1 home victory.
On 7 March, Abdulrahman helped Al Ain in a 2–1 win over Al Wasl, by provided an assist for Gyan to score the tie 1–1 and also played a part in the second goal.
On 3 April, Abdulrahman returned from injury sustained against Esteghlal, in a 2–1 win over Al Rayyan, where he assisted on two goal. On 9 April 2013, in a match against Al Rayyan, where he assisted Al Ain's only goal in the match, Abdulrahman wore the captain's armband after Hilal Saeed was substituted, then he give it to his teammate Fares Juma. On 14 April, Abdulrahman assisted another two goals in a 3–1 win over Ittihad Kalba. On 18 April 2013, Abdulrahman captained Al Ain for the first time in his career in a home win over Dubai and won the league title. On 5 May, against Al Ahli in the President's Cup semi-final, Abdulrahman was sent off after two yellow cards in the 90+6 minute for infringement against the referee's assistant and dissent against referee Ammar Al Junaibi. On 16 May, Abdulrahman won Al Hadath Al Riyadi Young Arab Player of the Year. On 26 May, he added both the Pro-League Emirati Player of the Year and Fans’ Player of the Year.
2013–14 season