The UAE will look to turn a promising start under Zlatko Dalic into immediate silverware when they face hosts Saudi Arabia in the Gulf Cup final on Tuesday.
The final will be played at Alinma Stadium at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah with the kick-off scheduled for 10pm (UAE time).
For Dalic, the final presents an opportunity to begin his tenure with a prestigious title, while for the UAE players, it offers a chance to end a long wait and lift the Gulf Cup for a third time, following their previous triumphs in 2007 and 2013.
The UAE won the Gulf Cup twice. Their first triumph came on home soil in Abu Dhabi in 2007, when they defeated Oman in the final, before claiming a second title six years later with victory over Iraq in Bahrain.
The UAE reached the final with a 1-0 victory over Oman, Ousmane Camara’s first-half header proving enough to settle a tense semi-final. Saudi Arabia had a more dramatic route, overcoming Qatar on penalties after 120 goalless minutes.
The contrasting semi-finals have produced an intriguing final. The UAE have shown defensive discipline and an ability to control difficult matches, while Saudi Arabia have been the tournament’s most consistent side and will have the considerable advantage of playing in front of their home supporters in Jeddah.
Dalic believes his players should embrace the occasion and enjoy the challenge.
‘Tomorrow will be the easiest game for us because it is a final,’ Dalic told reporters, emphasising the importance of allowing his players to enjoy the biggest match of the tournament.
‘We have reached the final and I want my team to enjoy the game. We are here to enjoy playing, and I hope the fans will get to see an amazing game,’ he added.
The Croatian acknowledged the scale of the challenge posed by Saudi Arabia, who have yet to concede a goal in the tournament and will have home support behind them at the final in Jeddah.
‘I know we will play against a very, very strong team who have been the best team so far in the tournament,’ Dalic said.
‘They are playing in front of their people, their fans, and it will be a full stadium, but we are ready.
‘We are ready for this moment. We have been working hard for the past 20 days. Saudi Arabia are a really good team, with a really good coach, but, as always, I am an optimist and I believe in my team.’
Dalic has overseen an unbeaten campaign since taking charge of the UAE. His team opened the tournament with a 4-0 victory over Yemen, followed it with a 3-0 win against Bahrain and drew 1-1 with Qatar before edging past Oman in the semi-final.
The UAE Football Association initially arranged six charter flights for supporters travelling to Jeddah, but doubled that number to 12 as demand surged ahead of the final.
UAE captain Khalid Essa credited the team’s supporters with helping drive their run to the Gulf Cup final, describing them as a major source of motivation for the squad.
Essa acknowledged the challenge awaiting the UAE against Saudi Arabia but said the team’s experience of falling short in recent big matches could help them handle the pressure.
‘We expect a tough match as it’s a big derby between two of the Gulf’s most established national teams,’ Essa said.
The goalkeeper said the UAE had endured several difficult moments in recent years and narrowly missed out on important occasions, but hoped those experiences would ultimately help the team deliver when it matters most.
‘We’ve been through many challenges in recent times and came close on previous occasions, so we hope this will be the moment we reap the rewards,’ he said.
Saudi Arabia have won all three of their group matches in the competition, beating Kuwait, Oman and Iraq before their dramatic semi-final against Qatar.
Their ability to maintain a clean sheet throughout the tournament has been one of the foundations of their progress.
Goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais was also instrumental in the semi-final, making crucial saves during the penalty shootout to send the hosts into the final. Saudi Arabia’s motivation extends beyond the home advantage. They are chasing their first Gulf Cup title since 2003, meaning victory would end a 22-year wait for the trophy.