Al-Ahly forward Mohamed Aboutreika dons colours of Baniyas A total of 124 player transfers were registered in United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the January transfer window, with 58 of these transfers involving Pro League clubs, and 66 involving Division One teams .In the Pro League, al-Shaab made the highest number of new signings with 9 players, but it was Baniyas who made the most prolific signings - bringing in Egypt's Mohamed Aboutreika on loan until the end of the season, along with Swedish playmaker Christian Wilhelmsson.
Baniyas also decided to keep Senegalese striker André Senghor at the club after Egyptian international Mohamed Zidan was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Twenty-five transfers were completed on January 31, transfer deadline day. However, UAE Football Association didn't witness the usual rush on final day of the window because of the newly-adopted web registration system, which was first used in the 2012 summer transfer window.
Al-Jazeera, al-Ain and al-Shabab were the exception in the hyperactive window, as none of them signed any players. On the other hand, the trio succeeded in keeping their foreign stars, such as Delgado [Argentina], Ricardo Oliviera [Brazil] and Fernandinho [Brazil], who play for al-Jazeera.
Al-Nasr bolstered their squad with the signing of Japanese midfielder Murimuto, who replaced the Iraqi international Nashat Akram.
Al-Wasl made the headlines after confirming the release of on-loan Egyptian star Shikabala, who failed to impress during the first half of the season.