Salem Saad, pictured here on the left, was only 31 years old when he died [EPA]

The Dubai based club announced that the 31-year-old collapsed on the pitch during a regular practice session and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital but died shortly after arrival.

"Salem Saad suffered a major heart attack during a routine training session held at Al Maktoum Stadium," read a statement on the club's website.

"Salem was immediately transferred to the Rashid hospital following the training ground incident however despite desperate attempts from the doctors, he sadly passed away in the intensive care centre.

"The Al Nasr Club including chairman, board members, administrators and fellow players would like to express its sincere condolences to the family at this tragic moment."

Sudden death

Salem Saad, who joined Al Nasr in June, is the former captain of Al Shabab who won the UAE league title last year.

He was also a member of the national UAE squad that won the Gulf Cup in 2007.

Al Nasr coach Frank Pagelsdorf spoke about the sudden death to Gulf News:

"Nobody can believe Salem Saad has died. I don’t think we’ll be training for a few days, after that the club will decide what must be done."

"He was a very nice human being, a funny sort of guy at times, good humoured, but immensely talented, helpful, so much so that everybody loved him at this club.

"He was well-liked and loved here at Al Nasr and his death is a big blow; a big loss not just to the club, but to UAE football in general."

According to The National, a UAE based newspaper, Saad's father, Saad al Abadla, also collapsed and died on the pitch playing football for Al Shabab when he was in his 40s.