UAE national football team head coach Zlatko Dalic says his side must improve on their semi-final performance as they prepare to face Saudi Arabia in the final of the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup.
The UAE booked their place in the final and will take on hosts Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Tuesday night.
Speaking after the semi-final win, the Croatian coach said: "We did not play our best match and missed some chances, particularly the penalty, but the most important thing for us is qualifying for the final." He added that he expects a stronger display in the final: "I believe we can perform better, improve our style of play and create more chances. Our performance in the final will be better."
Dalic also acknowledged the scale of the challenge posed by a Saudi side playing in front of their own fans. "Saudi Arabia are a strong team and will play in front of their home fans, so it will be a very difficult match," he said.
Dalic, who was appointed UAE head coach in August 2026, previously led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final and a third-place finish in 2022. He also has prior coaching experience in the UAE, having previously managed Al Ain.