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Oil loading at a key port in the United Arab Emirates resumed after a drone strike and fire on Saturday had forced a halt, reopening the country’s only export route that bypasses the blocked Strait of Hormuz.Operations at Fujairah — which is vital to keep oil moving to world markets — have restarted, according to people familiar with the situation, who can’t be identified as they’re not authorized to comment. Calls to the port, as well as state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Co, were not answered. Bloomberg News reported earlier that the blaze had been extinguished.Fujairah is a major hub for both crude and fuels, and has taken on increased significance for both the UAE and global markets because of its position outside the Strait of Hormuz, which has been all-but-closed because of the war. The port sits at the end of a pipeline that connects it to the main oil fields in Abu Dhabi. A drone was intercepted Saturday and falling debris caused the fire, Fujairah’s media office said.The port’s earlier suspension highlights the risks to regional supplies from the conflict, which lifted crude futures far above $100 a barrel last week to the highest level since 2022. The Paris-based International Energy Agency has warned that the hostilities have triggered unprecedented disruption to oil flows, and highlighted the importance of reopening Hormuz.The damage at Fujairah came not long after the US struck military targets on Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export facility, prompting a warning from Tehran that it would retaliate against regional energy infrastructure. Critical infrastructure including UAE’s Ruwais refinery — one of the world’s biggest — Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura plant and Qatar’s massive liquefied natural gas facility have already been targeted.Positioned between the Gulf of Oman and the Hajar mountains, Fujairah is the main export terminal for the UAE’s Murban crude, piped from Abu Dhabi’s production areas. In addition to Adnoc’s crude-storage facility, the port has capacity for more than 70mn barrels of oil and fuels for traders needing rapid supply access. It also serves as a ship refueling hub.At the weekend, US President Donald Trump stepped up calls to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying warships will “hopefully” be sent to the area near Iran’s coast to help commercial vessels sail through safely. 

With airspace in the Middle East still largely closed for civil aviation, Emirates has found its fleet of Airbus SE A380 superjumbos scattered across the globe, highlighting the disruption wrought by the war in Iran and the logistical complications to resume regular service.Out of the 116 double-decker jets that Emirates operates, only about a third are back home in Dubai. The rest of the fleet is parked in places as far-flung as China, Australia and across dozens of other airports around the world, according to data from flight tracking site Flightradar24.Emirates operates the Airbus A380 in much larger quantities than any other airline, turning the giant plane into an emblem of Dubai’s economic might and a symbol of its aspirations that are mirrored by the Burj Al Khalifa skyscraper — the world’s tallest building — or the luxurious Palm islands.The airline has been forced to scrap more than 2,000 flights since Saturday, among the most severe disruptions ever for a carrier that prides itself in its round-the-clock operations and resilience. While the airline has started some limited operations to evacuate people out of Dubai, regular commercial operations remain canceled.Several Emirates flights coming back to Dubai in the early hours of Tuesday had to divert back to Mumbai and Oman.Throughout the airspace closure, the airline has still been able to make use of so-called fifth freedom rights that allow carriers to connect between two cities that are not in the country of origin. For Emirates, these include New York to Milan, Mexico City to Barcelona, and Christchurch to Sydney.While Emirates has not commented on the cost from the disruption, the out-of-position A380s will contribute to the expense. The last time the airline experienced broader stoppage was during floods in Dubai in 2024, which Emirates said led to $110mn in losses. 

Dubai's super-rich have started fleeing the glitzy business hub by any means necessary, paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to escape a regional war they fear has no end in sight.The city in the United Arab Emirates has long welcomed the wealthy, who have been drawn to its low taxes, safety, luxury and business-friendly government.But with that reputation on the line as Iranian missiles fly overhead, some are stumping up huge sums to secure a way out, with airspace in the UAE partially closed."When we saw the fire, we said OK, it's time to go," said Evrim, a mother of two from Turkiye, referring to a blaze that broke out after missile debris hit a luxury hotel near her home on the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai's archipelago of man-made islands that have come to represent the city's ostentatiousness.She, her husband and her two young children are paying $200,000 to fly out of neighbouring Oman bound for Geneva, where they plan to wait out the war. To reach Oman's capital Muscat, they had to drive six hours through the desert."We were feeling really anxious... mainly because of the kids -- when they heard that bang sound they were scared," she said, referring to missile interceptions overhead.She felt it would only become harder to leave if the conflict dragged on, fearing that Saudi Arabia, which accounts for much of the region's airspace, may join the war.Dubai has built a reputation as a playground for the rich and famous, with the city home to the world's tallest building, an enormous mall with an indoor ski slope, huge theme parks and luxury hotels.But its status as a safe and secure hub in a volatile region is now under threat.Targeted by more than 800 drones and 200 missiles since Saturday, with three people killed, the UAE is bearing the brunt of Iran's retaliatory campaign across the Gulf. Airports and oil facilities are among the targets hit.Several foreign governments, including Britain and Germany, are sending planes to Oman to evacuate their nationals, as a reduced number of commercial flights are operating out of UAE airports.But many of the wealthy are finding their own way out."Demand is definitely increasing," said Glenn Phillips, PR and advertising manager for Air Charter Service, a broker that organises private jets worldwide."We have arranged a number of evacuation flights already, and have more scheduled today and tomorrow, mainly out of Muscat in Oman for people looking to get out of Dubai."He said prices were spiking due to a lack of airplanes as many were grounded at closed airports. Private jet operators are also reluctant to fly due to security concerns.The Oman route was the most popular, Phillips added, but congestion at the border with the UAE meant people were waiting three or four hours to cross.Available aircraft will become even more scarce if the war is prolonged, he said.Mike D'Souza, operations co-ordinator at Indus Chauffeur in Dubai, said demand for private cars out of the UAE had spiked among wealthy individuals from Western nations.Many were heading out via Saudi Arabia, where airports are still operating, though obtaining visas for the kingdom is a challenge for some evacuees.For those stranded on more modest incomes, the journey to safety is harder.One British expat, who declined to be named, told AFP that securing a commercial flight out of Muscat had been extremely difficult for himself, his pregnant wife and three-year-old son."Prices are extremely high and seats are disappearing quickly while you are trying to book," he said.They eventually managed to nail down a flight to the Indian city of Hyderabad, from where they will fly on to Thailand."While my son doesn't understand what is happening, it has clearly unsettled him, and my wife has also been anxious."That said, we absolutely love Dubai and consider it our home. We fully intend to return once our baby is born and things settle down." 

Emirates NBD Bank PJSC is expanding its footprint in Asia as capital flows between the Middle East and fast-growing Asian markets gather pace.“Many Asian corporates are expanding operationally into the Middle East, and funding is a natural part of that,” Hitesh Asarpota, chief executive officer at Emirates NBD Capital, the bank’s investment banking unit, said in an interview. The firm has seen “growing demand from Asian issuers to access Middle East liquidity, particularly across loans and bond markets.”The Gulf’s third largest bank by market value remains anchored in its core Middle Eastern asset base but is building out capabilities in Asia, mirroring a wider push by global lenders such as HSBC Holdings Plc to tap growing cross-border flows between the two regions.The Dubai-based bank obtained an investment banking license in Singapore last November, and plans to focus on loan syndications, debt and equity capital markets with a focus on access to Middle Eastern investors, according to Asarpota. It is also gaining ground in India, where it secured a merchant banking permit last month and plans to build a team of at least 15 investment bankers by year-end, Asarpota added.In Singapore, the bank has already done two bond issuances this year for Asian issuers, BOC Aviation Ltd and Far East Horizon Ltd.Middle Eastern investors, including sovereign wealth funds, have stepped up capital allocations to Asia, particularly across China and India, while Asian corporates are expanding in the Gulf, especially in infrastructure and renewables.In the UAE, “banking liquidity has been the highest it’s been” with demand for Asian assets “relatively sector-agnostic,” Asarpota said. Appetite among Middle Eastern investors is thinner for longer-dated project finance loans in Asia, he said.Middle Eastern borrowers raised about $14.2bn through syndicated loans across Asia Pacific in 2025, a record and a 175% increase from the previous year, according to Bloomberg-compiled data tracking volumes since 1999. 

Former winner Jay Vine and defending champion Jhonatan Narvaez completed a one-two for UAE Team Emirates XRG to dominate the second stage of the Tour Down Under near Adelaide Thursday.Australia's Vine, the 2023 winner, powered up the Corkscrew Hill the second time with Ecuador's Narvaez hanging in on his wheel to open up a race-winning break and scatter their rivals for an untroubled sprint into the Uraidla finish.Such was Vine's dominance that Narvaez clapped him in tribute as they crossed the finish line of the 148.1km stage with Swiss champion Mauro Schmid (Team Jayco AlUla) third, 58 seconds adrift of the pair.Vine took the lead in the race general classification by six seconds from Narvaez with Schmid third 1min 5sec behind the leader."It's been on my mind since the last time I wore the ochre leader's jersey, it's so incredible to win on such a hard stage," Vine said."We have such a strong position now with me and Jonny (Narvaez) and being led out by Adam Yates is pretty incredible as well."Narvaez, who appeared to be gasping to keep up with Vine on the demanding final Corkscrew climb, paid tribute to his teammate."Jay was really strong, I was just a passenger on his wheel on the climb," he said."He prepared really well for this race and we are happy to get the victory and, of course, we are looking to win the GC."It was a huge statement by the powerful UAE team with three stages left in the UCI World Tour season opener.It was the first time in the race's 26 years that a men's stage had featured two Corkscrew Hill climbs.With 700 metres left up the steep 2.6km ascent Vine blasted clear and Narvaez was the only rider who could go with him as their attack scattered the peloton.Denmark's Tobias Lund Andresen, the race leader after stage one, was dropped on the last climb of the Corkscrew and limped home in 82nd place. 

Mikel Arteta warned Arsenal's title rivals that their ruthless 4-1 rout of Aston Villa showed they are on track to win the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.Arteta's side issued a significant statement of intent in the title race by crushing Villa with a second half blitz at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.A costly mistake from Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez opened the floodgates as his failure to catch a corner allowed Gabriel Magalhaes to bundle home. Martin Zubimendi doubled the lead moments later before Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus produced clinical finishes to complete the demolition.Ollie Watkins' stoppage-time goal was no consolation for out-classed Villa, who paid the price for failing to turn their first half dominance into goals. After losing at Villa and Liverpool and drawing with Manchester City and Chelsea earlier this season, Arsenal finally have a landmark victory in the bid to win the title.Arteta hailed the result as proof Arsenal have what it takes to lift the Premier League trophy at last after finishing as runners-up for three successive seasons."Well, it has been a great 2025 on a personal and professional level. The way these guys, the club and the staff make me enjoy my work every single day is brilliant," Arteta said. "In 2026, we know what we want. We will have to work really hard for it every single day, but I think we are on the right tracks for it."Arsenal end 2025 five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who play their game in hand at Sunderland on Thursday, while third-placed Villa are six points adrift of the leaders. Ending Villa's club-record equalling 11-match winning run was a sweet moment for Arteta after the pain of Emiliano Buendia's stoppage-time winner for Unai Emery's men earlier in December."It is a beautiful evening. That was a very tough match, as we knew it would be, because they are a top opponent," said Arteta. "The first 10 minutes were a bit shaky and we had to adjust things. After that, we grabbed the game and we were creating the chances. The way we started the second half was amazing. We really turned things up and were efficient in everything that we did. We had to be really meticulous. It's a big credit to my players because against this team it isn't easy."After grinding out a series of victories with just a one-goal margin lately, this was the kind of swaggering display that underlined Arsenal's vast potential. "We needed scrappy goals to win other games but today the quality of our finishing was top and made the difference," Arteta said.Praising Brazil defender Gabriel's influence on his first start since being injured in November, Arteta added: "We saw it today. He came back after six weeks out and composed himself against one of the best strikers in the league in Ollie Watkins. I thought he was tremendous."Arteta and Emery didn't shake hands at the final whistle, with the Villa boss claiming his fellow Spaniard was too busy celebrating to acknowledge him. "When I finish the match I am always waiting to shake hands with another coach but he was with his coaches and I can't wait for him. Of course, I was there but no problem. I went to my dressing room," Emery said.Arteta played down the incident, saying: "Sometimes we are in this sort of moment, so it's not an issue for me."Emery was left to rue Martinez's mistake and an injury to Belgium midfielder Amadou Onana, which he felt changed the momentum of the match. "The first goal, how they scored it maybe could be foul but here in England it is more difficult because the referees let you touch the keepers," he said. "That changed everything. After Onana's injury we lost everything in the middle. Arsenal have the power they showed. That is football." 

The US dollar will slide against peers again in 2026 though the moves will be more muted than in 2025, according to Emirates NBD.The regional banking group expects the dollar will decline compared with peer currencies in 2026 as policy differentials increasingly move against it.Among major central banks, the Federal Reserve will stand out as still cutting policy while peers will either keep rates on hold or lean towards tighter policy, Emirates NBD said in a report.On the surface, the US dollar doesn’t look like a natural candidate to weaken. Growth in the US economy will be faster than all major peers in 2026, based on consensus projections, and inflation will also be materially higher.But a softening labour market is encouraging more dovish views from the Fed even amid the higher inflation environment.The researcher’s expectation is for another 75 bps of cuts from the Fed in 2026 compared with no change in policy from the European Central Bank and hikes from the Bank of Japan.Emirates NBD expects that the euro will extend its 2025 gains against the dollar in 2026 although the scale of appreciation will be far more muted.Economic activity in the eurozone remains sluggish — the regional economy expanded by just 1.4% year-on–year (y-o-y) in Q3-2025 — but that is a material improvement from the static levels of activity recorded in 2024.Inflation in the eurozone will remain relatively stable in 2026, close to target levels of around 2%. After cutting rates by 100 bps in 2025 the researcher does not expect that the ECB will cut rates any more in 2026, keeping the deposit facility at 2%.Several ECB policymakers have even been making a case that upside risks to growth may warrant the bank needing to actually hike rates though we are not expecting that to be an imminent change in direction.While the eurozone’s economy may not be showing signs of vigour, it does appear to be at least stable.Narrowing rate differentials will favour the euro in 2026 though the momentum on rates will be more to do with the Fed than the ECB or eurozone economic dynamics.The rearcher expects EURUSD will move from 1.17 at the end of 2025 to 1.21 by the end of 2026, an appreciation of about 3.4% compared with 13% gains in 2025.The Japanese yen looks the most likely candidate for strengthening in 2026 though near-term political noise means that any gains could be delayed until later in the year.Economic activity will decelerate markedly in 2026 as trade and investment cool. But in an effort to restore some growth and inflation momentum, Japan’s new government has approved a large stimulus package worth a total of $135bn in direct and indirect support measures, the report said. 

The anticipated launch of Qatar’s North Field gas expansion, which is expected to come online around the middle of 2026, will underpin GCC hydrocarbon segment growth, according to Emirates NBD.The regional banking group has forecast Qatar’s hydrocarbons growth at 7.0% next year and 8.0% in 2027.While there will be a modest slowdown in the region’s non-hydrocarbons activity next year, Emirates NBD anticipates that growth in the hydrocarbons sector, which still accounts for nearly 30% of the GCC economy, will accelerate and expand by 6.5%. This would be the fastest rate of growth since 2022 when the region benefitted from the post-Covid surge in demand for oil and compares with an estimated 4.5% growth in 2025.“The surge in growth does not reflect a particular rise in forecast global demand next year, with growth expected to be sluggish at best, but rather in large part a change in strategy from OPEC+ that has seen it pivot to target market share rather than pricing,” Emirates NBD noted.This will boost Saudi Arabia’s oil GDP in particular, where it forecasts growth of 8.0% next year, while Kuwait will pick up to 6.0%, from an estimated 3.5% in 2025.Bahrain is not a member of OPEC+, but should benefit from the Bapco modernisation programme, which was introduced in late 2024 and expected to boost activity.The researcher’s broad expectation for non-oil activity in 2026 is that there will be a modest slowdown across the bloc, but this is largely on the back of base effects following several years of higher-than-average growth coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic.The conditions that have supported growth through the past year are set to continue, with the global environment arguably set to be more conducive to stimulating economic activity than was seen in 2025.“We forecast weighted average non-oil growth of 4.4% in 2026, down from an estimated 4.8% in 2025, with Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia set to be the outperformers once again,” Emirates NBD noted.On aggregate, the GCC economies will see stronger growth next year, with almost all of the six economies that constitute the bloc set to see a faster expansion than Emirates NBD estimated for 2025. This, it noted, will be driven by an anticipated acceleration in hydrocarbons activity, while non-oil growth will remain strong, albeit slowing from recent levels.Non-oil growth will be supported by growing populations, the expansion of new industries, and high levels of public investment. Lower oil prices will keep pressure on budgets, but this will be offset in part by higher production levels, and the regional governments remain committed to their various development agendas. 

Emirates is in advanced talks to order at least 30 of Airbus SE’s largest widebody jets, according to people familiar with the matter, signalling a shift in the carrier’s long-standing criticism of the quality of engines made by Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc.The Dubai-based carrier is looking to purchase A350-1000 aircraft, with options to order more, the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are ongoing and confidential. An agreement may be announced at the Dubai Air Show that starts on Monday, though successful completion of the talks isn’t guaranteed.Deals with Emirates are often finalised only a few days or even hours before an announcement is made. Some previous accords between the carrier and the European planemaker fell apart at the last minute, including a major order for the jumbo A380 in 2017 and another for the A350-1000 two years ago.Emirates and Rolls-Royce declined to comment. An Airbus spokesperson said the company is always in contact with existing and potential customers, and any discussions remain confidential.At the 2023 Dubai show, Emirates agreed to take 15 of Airbus’ shorter A350-900, a relatively small number for a carrier known for making major purchases with Airbus and Boeing Co Emirates President Tim Clark decided against ordering the larger variant because of what he called “defective” engines made by Rolls-Royce.At the time, he said the turbines had overly frequent maintenance cycles. Reliability is particularly important for carriers in the Middle East who run their aircraft in hot and demanding cycles, putting more strain on their planes.The deal would be a major boost for the Rolls-Royce product in the Middle East and for its relationship with the executive running the world’s largest international airline.Rolls-Royce has been working to improve the performance and durability of the engine as part of a £1bn ($1.3bn) investment. The UK-based company has been testing the new model by spraying sand at its blades.Other carriers in the region have raised similar concerns about the turbines. Etihad Airways also faces issues with the maintenance cycles for the same engine.This year’s show may be the final one for Clark, 75, who announced plans to retire in 2019 but then reversed course because of the global pandemic.If the current talks with Airbus are successful, the order will help shape the airline’s future fleet, which is currently built mainly around the existing Boeing 777 and the out-of-production A380.The carrier also has an order book for more than 200 of Boeing’s yet-to-be certified 777X.For Airbus, this will be the last show for its commercial chief executive officer, Christian Scherer, who’s spent more than four decades at the France-based manufacturer.

For much of their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, Qatar’s dream seemed in jeopardy. The two-time Asian champions, who have dominated continental football since 2019, have long struggled to secure a World Cup spot on merit.This campaign was no different: four coaching changes, inconsistent defensive displays and heavy losses at key moments tested the team, forcing Qatar’s most capped player, Hassan al-Haydos, to come out of retirement to boost team morale.Their maiden appearance in 2022 as hosts had ended in disappointment, as they became the first host nation to lose all three group games. With FIFA expanding the tournament to 48 teams, qualifying on merit was not just a goal — it was essential to restore pride and showcase their progress on the global stage.Last night, a tense and action-packed 2-1 win over the United Arab Emirates in the fourth round of Asian qualification secured Qatar’s place in next summer’s World Cup finals in North America — which should no doubt be a monumental relief for players, fans and everyone involved in Qatari football.At the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, second-half headers from captain Boualem Khoukhi and Pedro Miguel, both delivered from Akram Afif’s expertly curled free-kicks, ensured Qatar will make their second successive World Cup appearance. But the night was far from calm.UAE fans erupted after each Qatari goal, hurling plastic cups and bottles, with a sandal even striking a member of Qatar’s support staff. Substitute Mohammed Muntari had to be restrained as the forward charged toward the away section after relentless provocation.And after Miguel’s 74th-minute strike, some UAE fans climbed over perimeter fences before police and security could restore order — a chaotic scene reminiscent of the 2019 Asian Cup clash when when sandals was hurled on the pitch on Qatar players.Drama reached its peak in the final minutes. Tarek Salman received a straight red card in the 89th minute for a reckless tackle, and deep into injury time, Sultan Adil pulled one back for the UAE, leaving the crowd on edge through 15 minutes of added time. When Uzbekistan referee Ilgiz Tantashev finally blew the whistle, emotions poured from players and fans alike with tears, relief and unbridled celebrations all mingling in the stands.The intensity extended beyond the pitch. Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui was accidentally struck in the face by his own player during an early tackle, adding to the night’s drama.The visitors’ lineup had been adjusted after their epic comeback against Oman less than 70 hours earlier, switching from an aggressive 4-2-4 to a more cautious formation designed to contain Qatar’s danger man, Afif.Qatar went into the game knowing only a win would suffice. Early threats came from Sultan al-Brake, whose close-range effort was blocked by goalkeeper Khaled Eisa, and Ayoub al-Ouwi, who flashed a rebound across goal. UAE came close themselves, with Lucas Pimenta heading wide in the 15th minute and Edmilson Junior twice creating chances that narrowly evaded Eisa.The breakthrough came four minutes after the restart. Saleh’s foul on Edmilson Junior gave Qatar a free-kick on the right flank, and Afif delivered a perfect cross for Khoukhi to head home. Three minutes later, Afif repeated the trick, this time finding Miguel at the far post to double the lead.UAE’s hopes were briefly revived after Salman’s red card, and Adil pulled one back in the 98th minute. Despite the late surge, Qatar held on, proving that after the turmoil and setbacks of the campaign, they could qualify on merit — and do so in spectacular fashion.Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui, reflecting on the dramatic night, called it a “great achievement” for his side. “It was a very difficult match. We faced a strong and well-prepared team, the UAE. I congratulate everyone on qualifying in a match that we were able to manage well with the players and the team. Yes, this is the first time we have qualified, and this is a great achievement for us. We are happy to qualify and participate in the next World Cup,” the Spaniard said.“The first half was balanced. We wanted to score, and we achieved that early in the second half. We had to give our best in the match. I thank the players and the fans. Everyone did what was necessary. We overcame a difficult stage, qualified, and made our fans happy,” Lopetegui added.

Qatar left it late – fairly late – but what a wonderful night of football for the two-time Asian Cup champions. A dreary goalless draw in their previous game against unfancied Oman last week, Qatar last night had to play for everything against the UAE, a much more feisty side than most in the region. What could have been a straightforward path to 2026, it became a jaunty road to the World Cup finals but hosts Qatar grabbed their chance with courage as they beat the UAE 2-1 on a warm night at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.**media[368994]**Captain Bualem Khoukhi’s snap-header off an Akram Afif’s indirect free-kick found the back of the UAE net in the 49th minute, an effort that opened the door for Qatar’s passage to the football spectacle in the US, Canada and Mexico next year. Khoukhi’s 20th career international goal was clearly the most memorable for the Qatar captain. Qatar needed a hero and the captain arrived, soaring high in the air to deflect the ball past the UAE ’keeper. The flying effort was poetry in motion on a free-kick launched by Qatar’s most influential player of the last decade – Afif.After a number of threatening moves from both sides, Qatar’s mercurial forward Afif once again delivered a delicious long range free-kick that was expertly deflected into the UAE net by defender Pedro Miguel to double the lead in the 74th minute. The second goal by the ever reliable Pedro was spectacular as it was timely. It was game, set and match for UAE while Qatar fans went delirious in the stands. According to official stats, 13,038 fans were present at the venue.**media[368990]**Last night’s result at a packed Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium was a welcome scoreline for relatively new coach Julen Lopetegui who openly said ‘the chance to take Qatar to the FIFA World Cup stirred him on’. For Khoukhi and his men with a mighty ambition, this was the biggest match of their lives after back-to-back Asian Cup title wins in 2019 (in UAE) and 2024 (in Qatar) respectively. They didn’t disappoint their legion of fans who had come prepared to back their side with lung power!In May this year, Qatar Football Association welcomed former West Ham coach Lopetegui with the words: “Ready for a new chapter. Welcome Lopetegui. We’re excited to embark on this journey together,” the QFA wrote on social media. “I’m ready” the Spaniard said in a video accompanying the post on ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter. And ready he was. Ready to make surprise call-ups and shock picks. In an effort to boost Qatar’s chances for a berth at the 2026 Finals, Lopetegui recalled retired Asian Cup winning captain Hassan al-Haydos and surprisingly rang up former striker Sebastian Soria before last week’s Oman clash. What’s more, Lopetegui even gave match time to Soria, 41, for his first match in eight years for Qatar in the second half Tuesday.**media[368992]**Qatar, who had scored 27 times in their last 31 games prior to last night’s clash, put up a spirited display in the first half when both sides walked off without conceding a goal. However, after the break, Khoukhi magic titled the momentum towards Qatar as fans at a packed Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium thundered in approval for the boys in maroon. From free-flowing football witnessed in the first half, the tense game quickly turned into a slugfest as the battle for ball possession became a dogfight.Qatar – after months of edgy performances – last night delighted their fans by sealing their berth at next year’s finals in North America following a win that came after two demoralising losses against the UAE last year.It was sweet revenge for Qatar who last year successfully defended their Asian Cup title won in 2019.Al Annabi had produced a similar gutsy performance when they beat hosts UAE in the semi-finals of the 2019 Asian Cup, an event they won in spectacular fashion.From bidding for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in 2009 and hosting the football spectacle three years ago, Qatar football has made huge leaps in performance and style. In the last 6 years, Qatar have won two AFC Asian Cup titles (2019 and 2024) and have now sealed a berth at next year’s FIFA World Cup finals in the US, Canada and Mexico. From roping in quality players for the 12 clubs in the Qatar Stars League, Qatar football promises much for the fans and the game’s stakeholders.Well done, Qatar!

History, form, and recent head-to-head records will all be against Qatar when they face the United Arab Emirates in a crucial Asian World Cup Qualifiers playoff at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium Tuesday. Despite enjoying home advantage and a six-day break between matches — compared to just three days for the UAE and Oman — the Asian champions find themselves in a must-win situation in their bid to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Qatar produced an underwhelming performance in their goalless draw with Oman, while the UAE came from behind to defeat the same opponents, putting them firmly in control of Group A. A draw will be enough for the Emiratis to secure qualification, but Qatar — second only on goal difference ahead of Oman — must win to reach their second successive World Cup and the first on merit. A draw would send them into a two-legged playoff against the Group B runners-up, currently Iraq, who face Saudi Arabia Tuesday. The winner of that tie, to be held in November, will advance to an intercontinental playoff for one final chance to qualify. In truth, Qatar have struggled throughout the qualification campaign. What’s more concerning is their recent record against the UAE — having lost both home and away encounters in the previous round. Last September, Al Annabi were beaten 1-3 at the very venue they play Tuesday, and two months later in Abu Dhabi, Brazil-born playmaker Fabio De Lima scored four goals in a 5-0 thrashing. While past results may count for little in a decisive match like this — where a single moment of brilliance or lapse in judgement can settle matters — Qatar’s qualification record does little to inspire confidence. Still, the 15,000-capacity crowd at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium — with UAE fans allocated just eight percent of tickets — will be firmly behind the home side, hoping their support can make the difference. Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui has not inspired much confidence either, with the former Spain and Real Madrid manager fielding two debutants — 20-year-old Al Gharafa defender Ayoub Aloui and 25-year-old Al Rayyan goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada — in an important clash against Oman. That tactic did not yield the desired result, though the two new faces fared better than some of their more experienced teammates. It will be interesting to see what lineup Lopetegui chooses Tuesday, with the odds in favour of him fielding a stronger side. Almoez Ali — who came on only in the 57th minute against Oman — is set to start, while star forward Akram Afif, who squandered Qatar’s best chance early in the second half, will also need to be at his best. Veteran Hassan al-Haydos, who returned from international retirement specifically for the play-offs, remained unused against Oman and his calming presence might make a difference Tuesday. Ahead of the match, Lopetegui was upbeat about Qatar’s chances and said his side was ready to “make the dream a reality.” “We’ve been working for months to reach this incredible opportunity and to chase a big dream,” said Lopetegui. “Our focus is fully on the moment ahead and we’re preparing to be ready tomorrow to make that dream a reality.” The Spaniard dismissed any notion that two recent losses against the UAE would have any psychological impact on his players. “We know we’ll be facing a very strong national team — full of quality players and led by an excellent coach — but our attention is on our own strength, on our team,” he said. “We’re ready and looking forward to tomorrow. I believe the story of our previous matches against them is already written, but tomorrow’s story is still to be written. That’s why it’s crucial for us to compete at our best and have full confidence in ourselves. We need to trust in our team and our strengths. We must keep pushing to achieve this great dream we’ve been chasing for a long time and stay completely focused on the moment ahead,” Lopetegui added. Meanwhile, the UAE, who are seeking to return to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1990, are not short on confidence. Cosmin Olaroiu’s second-half adjustments proved decisive against Oman, with substitutes Caio Canedo, Yahia Nader and Harib Abdalla making an immediate impact to spark the turnaround. The Romanian coach can be expected to tinker with his starting lineup against Qatar. Olaroiu was not in charge when the UAE beat Qatar twice in the previous round, as he replaced Paulo Bento only in May. But under him, the UAE have looked no less lethal. Marcos Meloni and Caio Lucas scored for the Emiratis against Oman, with Ali Saleh, Nicolas Gimenez, and Fabio Lima also making crucial contributions. Olaroiu — who guided Sharjah to AFC Champions League triumph before taking charge of the national team — urged his players to give one final push in what he described as their “last battle.” “Tomorrow, we go from two games down to one — the final battle. We have to treat it like a final, and we hope we can achieve this dream for the UAE,” he said. Olaroiu was not too happy with the short turnaround for his side, though he seemed to take it in his stride, insisting his players must focus on their performance. “When you play this kind of game, you find the energy everywhere,” he said. “The players have the will and belief to play with full strength. It’s a short recovery time, but we can’t complain. We have to face it. The players want to play, so they will find the reserves to recover and to play with full energy tomorrow. I’m sure about this. They will try their best, I’m sure. They believe, always, and I expect tomorrow they will do it again.”