Forte Virtus

That name did not last. The Gulf Heroes LLC, a company that runs sports academies, had set the club up in 2020 as Gulf FC, and it went by Gulf Heroes FC and Abtal Al Khaleej FC in turn before a 2025 rebrand fixed it as Forte Virtus FC, playing in white and purple.

Home is Abtal Al Khaleej Stadium in Mirdif, though its 800 seats have often sent the club across the emirates to The Sevens Stadium in Sharjah when a fixture needs more room. Recruitment has looked abroad: Mário Rui, who played for Napoli and Portugal, signed alongside Norwegian forward Adama Diomande, and English midfielder Jamie Hopcutt joined this year. Andrea Tedesco manages the side under chairman Yousif Al Marzooqi.

Dubai City FC remains the closest rival, the other club based in Mirdif and the side Forte Virtus beat to win their only title.