Saudi Arabia are Gulf Cup champions again. The hosts defeated the United Arab Emirates 2-0 in Jeddah on 6 October 2026, winning Gulf Cup 27 and securing their fourth title in the regional competition. Their previous triumph came in 2004: a 22-year wait ended in front of a packed Alinma Stadium at King Abdullah Sports City.
Hammam Al Hammami and Feras Al Buraikan scored within two minutes of each other early in the final. Behind them, goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais helped complete a remarkable campaign: Saudi Arabia did not concede a goal in any of their five matches.
Saudi Arabia vs UAE: how the final was decided
Al Hammami opened the scoring in the 11th minute. A corner from Saleh Abu Al Shamat was only partly cleared, and the winger’s effort from outside the immediate goalmouth took a deflection before beating Khalid Essa.
In the 13th minute, Al Buraikan finished a flowing move involving Moteb Al Harbi, Al Hammami and Nasser Al Dawsari. Al Dawsari’s pass put the striker through, and the finish doubled Saudi Arabia’s advantage before the UAE had settled into the match.
The final was not without opportunities for the visitors. The Saudi Pro League’s report records UAE efforts against the woodwork and a penalty decision reversed after a VAR review. Saudi Arabia also hit the post through Abu Al Shamat. The early scoreline gave the hosts control, but Al Owais still had work to do as the UAE searched for a way back.
Saudi Arabia’s road to the Gulf Cup 27 title
- Group stage: beat Kuwait 1-0, Oman 3-0 and Iraq 2-0.
- Semi-final: drew 0-0 with Qatar after extra time, then won the shootout 3-2.
- Final: defeated the UAE 2-0.
That sequence produced three group-stage wins, nine points, eight goals across the tournament and five clean sheets. The semi-final shootout goals are separate from the match score and do not count toward that eight-goal total.
Qatar provided the strongest obstacle before the final. Neither team scored during 120 minutes, making the penalty shootout decisive. Al Owais’ role in that match and the final explains why the goalkeeper became one of the tournament’s defining figures.
Who won the individual awards?
The Saudi Pro League confirmed three major awards for the champions: Al Buraikan finished as top scorer with three goals; Al Owais was named best goalkeeper; and Al Hammami, who opened the scoring in the final, won the best-player award.
The spread of those honours reflects the balance of the Saudi performance. A forward delivered the finishing, a winger supplied a decisive attacking contribution, and the goalkeeper protected the advantage throughout the competition.
What happened across the tournament?
Gulf Cup 27 ran from 23 September to 6 October in Jeddah with eight national teams. Saudi Arabia and Oman progressed from the group containing Kuwait and Iraq, while the UAE and Qatar advanced from the other group, which also included Bahrain and Yemen.
The UAE defeated Oman 1-0 in the other semi-final to reach the decider. Oman’s earlier qualification through a draw of lots ahead of Iraq had already made this edition memorable. Yemen also produced a notable 5-2 win over Bahrain, underlining that the tournament’s story extended beyond its eventual champions.
What does a fourth title mean for Saudi Arabia?
The victory brings Saudi Arabia level with Iraq on four Gulf Cup titles. Kuwait remains the competition’s record winner with ten. For coach Georgios Donis and his squad, the result offers a strong regional achievement before Saudi Arabia hosts the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
Our assessment: the most persuasive feature of this title was consistency. Saudi Arabia won the group, survived a scoreless knockout test and protected an early final lead. The Asian Cup will present a different challenge, but the Gulf Cup provides a concrete platform to build on.
Cover image: AI-generated editorial illustration, not a photograph of the final or trophy ceremony.