Gamal Bohandi: The Arab Cup as a Rallying Point for Arab Unity
16 November 2025
Arab Cup: A Stage for Unity and Solidarity
Gamal Bohandi, a former UAE star, is looking forward to the Arab Cup, which will be held in Qatar next month.
Bohandi regards the Arab Cup as an Arab gathering in Doha, and a platform to celebrate unity and solidarity under the banner of football.
Gamal Bohandi said that participating in the national team in a world tournament is a great honor that every player strives to achieve.
Bohandi is eager to watch the next generation of Emirati players represent their country in the anticipated event, stressing that joining the national team is a dream for every player and a way to give back to his homeland by achieving a feat that fills the nation with pride and raises its flag on the international stage.
He told the tournament's media center that the Arab Cup represents a platform to celebrate Arab culture and unity among the region's people.
“When we see Arabs from Asia meeting with their Arab brothers from Africa, football becomes our common language and a means to boost cultural exchange both on and off the pitch.”
He added, “I hope every fan becomes a good ambassador for their country, embodies sportsmanship and the values of unity and solidarity, because football unites us and does not divide us.”
Regarding Qatar's achievements, Bohandi said, “Qatar has proven to the world the Arab excellence in hosting through the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which amazed everyone. We have world-class stadiums and organization, and most importantly, the support from fans of all ages.”
It is noted that Bohandi has recently held several administrative positions in football, including board member and CEO for several clubs in the United Arab Emirates.
Earlier in his career, he made significant contributions to developing Emirati football for youth, and he is credited with leading the youth team to qualification for the Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria, and he also served as manager of the UAE Olympic national team under-23.
The Arab Cup draw placed the UAE in Group C alongside Egypt and Jordan, and the winner of Kuwait vs Mauritania.
The UAE team had reached the quarter-finals of the Arab Cup before exiting the tournament.
The event will run from December 1 to 18 across six World Cup-stadiums that previously hosted World Cup matches: Al Bayt Stadium, Al Janoub Stadium, Education City Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Lusail Stadium, and 974 Stadium.
Sixteen nations are taking part and contesting the title; nine of the top-ranked teams according to FIFA qualified automatically.
Meanwhile, 14 teams are competing for the remaining seven spots in qualifiers, scheduled for November 25-26 in Qatar.
Throughout the Arab Cup, fans will enjoy a range of cultural and entertaining activities celebrating the event.
Matches will be easily accessible thanks to a transport network, with accessibility features to ensure a smooth and comfortable experience for fans with disabilities.
Punchline 1: If unity were a sport, this Cup would have already signed a world-record deal for teamwork.
Punchline 2: And if cultural exchange had a referee, it would whistle every time a passport gets stamped in Doha.
