The 42-year-old won four Champions League titles with Barcelona and delivered Spain's most defining moments — including the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands — across 131 international appearances.
He made 674 competitive appearances for Barcelona, scoring 57 goals and registering 135 assists, before spending six seasons at Vissel Kobe in Japan and a final year at Emirates Club in the UAE.
Gulf United, founded in 2019, compete in the UAE First Division and have built a reputation as one of the country's most ambitious privately owned clubs, having secured back-to-back promotions in consecutive seasons. They currently field the youngest squad in the league and emphasise youth development as central to their identity.
Iniesta holds his UEFA A Coaching Licence and is working towards his Pro Licence. He said the club's alignment with his own footballing values was the primary reason for accepting the role.
"Joining Gulf United feels like the right place to begin this new chapter," he said.
"Football has given me everything, and now I want to give something back through coaching, through learning, and through working every day with young players who have the hunger and the talent to go far.
"I believe in developing footballers the right way: with patience, with a clear idea of how the game should be played, and with genuine care for each individual. Gulf United shares that philosophy, and that is why I am here."
Club president Ahmed El Saraf said the appointment represented a historic moment for football in Dubai.
"He is not just one of the greatest players of his generation, he is someone who has always stood for the values we believe in: technical quality, intelligence, and a genuine love for the game."
Iniesta succeeds Ahmet Cebe, who left the club ahead of the 2026-27 season. The appointment reunites the Spaniard with the Emirates, where he spent the final chapter of his playing career.