The 27th Arabian Gulf Cup will feature a notably international group of referees, with three from the UAE included in the official lineup. The Gulf Football Union has brought together officials from 12 countries across Europe, Africa, and Asia, aiming to raise the standard of officiating and encourage collaboration between different football cultures.
The 27th Arabian Gulf Cup will take place in Jeddah from September 23 to October 6, 2026, as confirmed by independent tournament listings and official squad announcements.
This year's Khaleeji Al Diyar Al Arabiya 27 will include referees from the seven Gulf states, as well as Morocco, Jordan, China, the Netherlands, and Portugal. Morocco's participation comes through a cooperation agreement with the African Football Confederation, while European and Asian officials add further diversity. The roster features names like Danny Makkelie and his Dutch team, João Pinheiro from Portugal, and Morocco's Jalal Jayed, alongside referees from Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. Reports from News50.sa and the Qatar Football Association confirm that referees from the Netherlands, Portugal, Morocco, China, and Jordan are joining the tournament as part of a planned expansion.
VAR technology will play a central role, with specialists from Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Morocco, and China. Mohammed Obaid Khadem Mohammed is among those responsible for VAR decisions. The VAR group covers eight countries, reflecting the Union's focus on technology and international standards.
Alongside the confirmation of the refereeing team, official squad lists for Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE have already been published, indicating that Gulf Cup 27 is in its final stage of preparation. This parallel progress in both officiating and team selection underscores the tournament's advanced organizational status.
Blan also thanked the Saudi Football Federation and the local organizing committee for supporting the referees, noting the logistical and technical resources provided. He said that officiating quality is central to the success of Khaleeji Al Diyar Al Arabiya 27, and credited Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, president of the Gulf Football Union, and secretary general Jassim Sultan Al Rumaihi for their ongoing support of the refereeing system.
The Gulf Football Union's approach follows a wider trend of internationalization in regional sports, as seen in other major events reported earlier. By bringing in referees from several continents, the Union is raising technical standards and positioning the Gulf Cup as a place to test best practices in football officiating.
With the officiating team confirmed and preparations underway in Jeddah, Khaleeji Al Diyar Al Arabiya 27 is set to highlight a new level of refereeing. The UAE's involvement in this group reflects its growing role in regional football and its focus on technical quality. The changes point to a more professional and internationally connected future for Gulf football.
