Saudi Arabia face UAE in Gulf Cup 27 final: kick-off time, channels and expected line-ups

Saudi Arabia will meet the United Arab Emirates in the final of the Arabian Gulf Cup “Gulf Cup 27” at Al-Inma Stadium on Tuesday, 6 October 2026.

The match will begin at 21:00 Saudi time and 22:00 in the UAE, with both teams aiming to finish the tournament as champions after topping their respective groups.

Saudi Arabia won all three of their group matches to finish first with nine points. The UAE also advanced as group winners, although they collected seven points.

Saudi Arabia secured their place in the final by eliminating Qatar on penalties. The UAE reached the decisive match after beating Oman 1-0.

How to watch the final

Saudi Sports, Sharjah Sports and Abu Dhabi Sports are among the broadcasters holding rights to show matches from the Arabian Gulf Cup “Gulf Cup 27”.

The match will also be available online through the Shasha application, MBC Shahid and Shoof.

The broadcast listings include Al Kass, Abu Dhabi Sports, Saudi Sports, MBC Action, Sharjah Sports, Oman Sports, Shasha platform and Kuwait Sports. The commentators listed are Mousa Eid and Saleh Al-Hamdani.

Expected line-ups

Saudi Arabia are expected to start with Mohammed Al Owais in goal.

The likely defence is Mohamed Mehrizi, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Jihad Zakaria and Moteb Al-Harbi, with Mohamed Kanno, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat and Nasser Al-Dawsari forming the midfield.

The expected forward line consists of Sultan Mandash, Homam Al-Hamami and Firas Al-Buraikan.

The UAE’s projected goalkeeper is Khalid Eisa.

In defence, Ruben Felipe, Lucas Pimenta, Alaa Al-Din Zuhair and Marcos Meloni are expected to feature. Mamadou Coulibaly, Issam Fayez and Loran Pereira are listed in midfield.

Nicolas Jimenez, Da Silva and Ousmane Camara make up the anticipated UAE attack.

Gulf Cup winners

Kuwait are the competition’s most successful side, having won the Arabian Gulf Cup 10 times. Their titles came in 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1996, 1998 and 2010.

Iraq have won the tournament four times, in 1979, 1984, 198 and 2023.

Saudi Arabia have three titles, secured in 1994, 2002 and 2003, while Qatar have also won three times, in 1992, 2004 and 2014.

The UAE have lifted the trophy twice, in 2007 and 2013. Oman have two titles, from 2009 and 2017, and Bahrain have also won twice, in 2019 and 2024.