Ala'a left the team shortly before the end of the 2016/17 season, to join Saudi club Al Batin.

Alaa played in all 3 of Iraq's matches at the Under-19 Asian Cup in October 2014 against Oman, Qatar and North Korea.

Despite Iraq having a higher goal difference and the same number of points as North Korea, they were knocked out at the group stage due to the head-to-head results.

Alaa was called up to the Iraqi Under-23 squad for the 2016 AFC Under-23 Championship qualifiers against Oman, Lebanon, Bahrain and the Maldives in March 2015.

In the third-place play-off, which Mhawi played in as well, against Qatar, Iraq won, awarding them with a spot at that summer's Olympics.

Alaa was called up to the Iraqi senior team following his impressive performances at the Under-23 Asian Championship and the Rio 2016 Olympics.

On 21 August 2016 he made his international debut and won his first cap for Iraq against North Korea in a friendly match.

Alaa has gone on to play in multiple World Cup qualifiers and friendlies for Iraq, establishing himself as one of the country's best right backs.

Although he is relatively quick, he hasn't got the explosive pace that a lot of full backs have, he makes up for that with his dribbling however, as he is very good on the ball going forwards.