The Green Falcons set an early attacking pace and broke through in the 11th minute when Hammam Al-Hammami scored from the edge of the penalty area. Two minutes later, Firas Al-Buraikan doubled the lead with a close-range finish after an assist from Nasser Al-Dosari.
Saudi Arabia nearly added a third in the 16th minute when Saleh Abu Al-Shamat's one-on-one effort was deflected off the post. The UAE's first real chance came in the 24th minute when Nicolas Gimenez struck the woodwork. Six minutes before halftime, UAE's Bruno had a penalty claim overturned by the video assistant referee.
Goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais maintained his clean sheet, making a key save early in the second half from substitute Sultan Adel.
Head coach Georgios Donis credited his team's discipline for the victory. "There were many difficulties, but the players showed focus and discipline and gave their best on the pitch," he said. "I think we turned those difficulties into a title, and that's important. We were the best team in this tournament."
The win marks Saudi Arabia's fourth Gulf Cup title, with the previous one coming in 2004. The team exited the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the group stage but will use this success as a foundation for the AFC Asian Cup 2027, which Saudi Arabia will host from January 7 to February 5. The kingdom is also set to become the second Gulf country after Qatar to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034.