All you need to know about the Arabian Gulf Cup 2019

The region's top football teams have arrived in Qatar for the highly-anticipated Arabian Gulf Cup 2019 all set to kick off today at the Khalifa International Stadium.

The 24th edition of the Gulf Cup will witness the participation of eight nations including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Yemen.

Here's all you need to know about the prestigious football tournament:

Tournament dates and Schedule:

The Gulf Cup is slated to begin tomorrow, November 26 and continue until Sunday, December 8, 2019.

Matches will be held at Khalifa International Stadium as well as Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium (also known as Duhail Stadium).

Here are the fixtures to be played over the 13-day tournament:

Ticketing Information

Limited tickets are available for the tournament and can be purchased online, here. 

Tickets are priced at:

- CATEGORY 1 - QAR 50

- CATEGORY 2 - QAR 30

- CATEGORY 3 - QAR 10

To purchase your ticket online, you will need to pay with a valid credit card as debit cards are not accepted.

All children over the age of two will require a valid ticket to gain access to the stadium.

Prohibited items at the stadiums

- mounts for photo and video equipment including tripods, monopods and selfie sticks

- radio and high-frequency devices or professional recording and transmitting devices or television and telecommunication equipment. 

- masks, helmets and other items that conceal visitor's faces except for the national and religious attire

- moving aircraft or models such as gliders, drones, and kites or other sports equipment, including bicycles, roller skates, skateboards, scooters, balls and frisbees

- corsets and body protection equipment such as bulletproof vests or martial arts equipment 

- paper rolls - toilet paper and kitchen roll

- umbrellas, narcotic, toxic substances, and their precursors, including in the form of medicines, and any other material that discriminated against a country, person or group based on race, skin color, ethnic, national, social backgrounds or on any other grounds - birth, age, gender, disability.

- advertising materials or promotional objects of any kind, flags and banners larger than 2m x 1.5m, other than official country flags, and those with symbols related to football clubs

- matches, lighters, toxic, radioactive, caustic or corrosive materials

- poisonous, noxious or pungent substances, oxidizing substances, and organic peroxides.      

- animals except for assistance and emotional support dogs,

- tools such as hammers and screwdrivers

- glass containers and bottles, flasks, liquids in containers larger than 100 ml

- food and beverages

- electronic, mechanical or manual instruments producing noise (including vuvuzelas) that are larger than 120 cm, devices - including megaphones - that may interfere with technical equipment such as lasers or lights

- baby strollers or prams or any other large objects exceeding 75cm in length, width or height

- any quantities of powder, explosives, detonators, and items containing them

- compressed and liquefied gasses, flammable and pyrotechnic substances and items

- weapons of any types including for self-defense, ammunition or components of guns and piercing items or knives

- oxidizing substances and organic peroxides toxic, radioactive, caustic or corrosive materials, poisonous, noxious or pungent substances

- materials that can generate smoke or flames

- medical drugs not more than 1 packet of up to 7 different medications

- poles for flag or posters, only flexible plastic poles and two-piece poles no longer than 1m and no more than 1cm in diameter may be used, as long as they are not flammable

- coloring substances or dyes

Security Measures

The Qualifying and Training Unit at the Security Committee of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy concluded extensive training programs to facilitate the hosting of the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) confirmed in a press statement.

Some 1,333 police and security personnel have been trained for this tournament and the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup Qatar next month.

The highest standards of security and safety in sports events will be applied in line with Qatar’s vision of organizing sports events, MoI stated. 

The trainees attended a course that ran for three weeks. The first week covered theoretical applications within the international curriculum in the safety and security of sports spectators. This included important decisions whose application is a key ingredient in the success of any major public or sporting event, MoI said.

The training was given in crowd management, conflict management, non-discrimination, human rights, thorough inspection, security sense, crisis, and emergency management and first aid. The second week involved practical applications at sports stadiums and facilities. 

In the third and final week of the program, training was conducted on laws and regulations, the statement added.

Road Closures

Qatar's Public Works Authority - Ashghal - Roads Operation and Maintenance (ROM) team has installed about 160 directional signs on the roads surrounding Gulf Cup stadiums to guide the fans to the parking lots, in addition to using the dynamic signs to inform them about the road status.

Ashghal also announced the temporary closures of different roads around Khalifa International Stadium during the Gulf Cup.

Closures will be from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM during the game days only. The closures aim to facilitate entry and exit of fans to the stadium.

Other Activities  

Authorities have been working hard to make sure this is the most memorable edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup.

There will be a fan zone at the tournament venues where musical performances for fans will take place.

Additionally, there will be majalis and several other fun, pre-match activities for fans of all ages.

The activities will begin at the Khalifa International Stadium when the gate opens at 4.30 pm tomorrow.

More than 900 volunteers will work together to ensure the activities run smoothly and fans make the most of their attendance. 

Transport and Parking

As many as 10,000 parking spots are available at the stadium. However, the easiest way to get to the stadium would be via the Doha Metro Gold Line.

Doha Metro will offer fans the quickest and most convenient way to travel to Khalifa International Stadium and other venues during the Arabian Gulf Cup. Watch this video for more information.@qrc_official @QFA @roadto2022 pic.twitter.com/DFYraiGsDi

— جوعان بن حمد (@JoaanBinHamad) November 25, 2019

Arabian Gulf Cup 

Qatar will be hosting the regional tournament, which is organized by the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF), for the fourth time.

The Maroons have clinched the champions title on three occasions in 1992, 2004 and 2014. 

The first edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup took place in 1970 in Bahrain with Kuwait becoming the inaugural winners after defeating the hosts in the final.

Qatar Squad for Gulf Cup 2019

? Here's our #Qatar ?? national team squad for the 2️⃣4️⃣th Arabian Gulf Cup ?#GulfCup2019 #Khaliji24pic.twitter.com/uO9IKTTTTj

— Qatar Football Association ?? (@QFA_EN) November 24, 2019

Al Annabi squad will include: Saad al-Sheeb, Pedro, Salem al-Hajri, Tariq Salman, Abdulkarim Hassan, Boualem Khoukhi, Hassan al-Haydos, Akram Afif, Bassam al-Rawi, Almoez Ali, Karim Boudiaf, Ismail Hamad, Mohamed Montari, Ahmed Fathi, Mohamed Salah, Fahd Shanin, Youssef Abdel Razzaq, Musab Khader, Abdul Aziz Hatem, Fahd Younis, Mahdi Ali, Abdullah Abdul Salam, Mohamed Bakri. 

We can't wait for all the action to unfold at the games and wish Al Annabi the best of luck! Stay tuned to our pages for more updates!

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Cover Image Credit: Kuwait Times