Saudi Arabia end 23-year Gulf Cup wait with victory over UAE

Saudi Arabia claimed their first Gulf Cup title in 23 years after defeating the United Arab Emirates 2-0 in the final, with defender Mutab Al-Harbi saying his side never faced a difficult moment in the match.

The victory secured Saudi Arabia’s fourth Gulf Cup crown, following their previous triumphs in 1994, 2002 and 2003-04. They scored twice within the opening 15 minutes and successfully protected their advantage until the final whistle.

“It was a deserved championship,” Al-Harbi told the Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiya. “We produced an excellent level from the first match to the last.”

He added: “Our efforts culminated in winning the cup, and praise be to God for this achievement.”

Asked which part of the final had been the most challenging, Al-Harbi said: “There was no difficult moment for us. We carried out the coach’s instructions and the match went well for us.”

The result ended Saudi Arabia’s long wait for silverware and moved them level with Iraq in second place in the list of the competition’s most successful teams, with four titles. Kuwait remain the record holders with 10 Gulf Cup victories.

The championship was also Saudi Arabia’s first trophy in all competitions since their 2003-20 Gulf Cup success, according to the source article. Since then, they had suffered a number of disappointments in finals, including defeat by Iraq in the 2007 Asian Cup final and losses in four Gulf Cup finals. In the Arab tournament, they finished third in 2025.

Greek manager Georgios Donis became the fourth coach to lead Saudi Arabia to the Gulf Cup title. He followed national team managers Mohammed Al-Kharashy, who won the 1994 edition, and Nasser Al-Johar, who guided them to the 2002 trophy, as well as Dutch coach Van der Lem, who oversaw the 2003-04 triumph.

The achievement brought renewed success to the Saudi national team after a prolonged period without a title. Al-Harbi said the squad’s performance throughout the tournament justified their eventual victory, while their disciplined display against the United Arab Emirates ensured they remained in control after their early goals.