The report says Guilherme Bala and Yuri Cesar are the latest naturalized additions to the UAE squad after making an impression with Shabab Al Ahli. Their arrival could give Dalic more variety in the final third, an area reportedly viewed as a weakness under predecessor Cosmin Olaroiu.
Bala is known for his dribbling, while Cesar brings intensity and a threat from set pieces. Those contrasting qualities may help the UAE attack with greater unpredictability, particularly if Yemen defend in a compact shape.
The pair are not expected to carry the entire creative burden. The squad still includes established local figures such as Sultan Adil, Khalid Essa and Harib Abdallah, giving Dalic a blend of familiar players and fresh attacking possibilities.
Dalic reportedly arrived after a notable spell with Croatia, and his coaching staff includes former Premier League defender Vedran Corluka and ex-Liverpool midfielder Igor Biscan. That background brings authority, but the Gulf Cup will offer the first competitive evidence of how his ideas translate to the UAE.
Adil has also pointed to the influence of Ismail Matar, who is now part of the coaching setup. “O treinador nos dá confiança, e também estamos aprendendo muito com Ismail Matar e sua vasta experiência nesses torneios,” the forward said, according to the report.
Matar’s history in the competition gives the UAE a valuable link to previous success, while Dalic has reportedly set reaching the semi-finals as an initial objective.
The Yemen opener should reveal whether the UAE can match Dalic’s ambition with sharper movement, greater attacking confidence and a clear response from the new arrivals. The next storyline will be whether Bala and Cesar can turn promise into a sustained tournament impact.