The United Arab Emirates fell 2-0 to Saudi Arabia in the final of the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup, played at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, missing out on a first title in the tournament since 2018.
Hosts Saudi Arabia struck twice in the opening quarter of an hour. Hammam Al Hammami broke the deadlock in the 11th minute with a deflected shot that beat the UAE goalkeeper, and just three minutes later Firas Al Buraikan doubled the lead with a low finish from his left foot. The UAE were unable to find a way back into the match despite pushing for a response in the second half.
The win gives Saudi Arabia their fourth Arabian Gulf Cup title and ends a 22-year wait since their last triumph in the competition.
For the UAE, reaching the final under new head coach Zlatko Dalic marked a significant return to form, their first appearance in the showpiece match since 2018. Dalic's side topped Group B in the opening round before edging past Oman 1-0 in the semi-final to book their place in Jeddah.
Saudi Arabia's path to the final was tougher: they needed a penalty shootout to see off Qatar 3-2 after a goalless 120 minutes in their own semi-final.
Hundreds of UAE supporters had travelled to Jeddah on chartered flights to back the national team, with tickets for the trip selling out within minutes of going on sale. Despite the defeat, reaching the final after an eight-year gap is being seen as a clear step forward for UAE football under Dalic's early tenure.