UAE–Qatar Super Cup Series
The UAE–Qatar Super Cup Series (Arabic: كأس السوبر الإماراتي–القطري) is a set of annual football competitions contested by top professional club teams from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The series features four separate trophies — the Super Cup, Super Shield, Challenge Cup, and Challenge Shield — forming a multi‑match tournament designed to strengthen sporting ties between the two Gulf nations. The event has grown since its inception, expanding to include eight teams (four from each country) competing across multiple fixtures.[1]
History
The UAE–Qatar Super Cup Series was established in the early 2020s as a bilateral club competition aimed at fostering competitive cooperation between UAE and Qatari football. Initially organised with a smaller set of matches, the series expanded into four distinct competitions — each with its own title — allowing a broader showcase of elite clubs from both nations.[1]
The second official edition took place in January 2025 with eight participating teams, featuring one tradition for each of the four titles: Challenge Shield, Super Cup, Super Shield, and Challenge Cup. Fixtures were held in venues across both countries, including Doha and Abu Dhabi.[2][3]
The third edition is scheduled for 22–25 January 2026, again bringing together four competitions in a multi‑day festival of football.[1]
Competitions
Super Cup
The Super Cup is the flagship match of the series, typically staged between high‑placing cup or league finishers from each association. It often serves as the opening match of the tournament.
In 2025, Al Nasr (UAE) defeated Qatar SC with a 5–1 scoreline in the Super Cup fixture.[4]
Super Shield
The Super Shield pits top league or cup teams from the UAE and Qatar in a marquee contest. In the 2025 edition, Al Wasl (UAE) won the Super Shield with a 1–0 victory over Al Sadd (Qatar) at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.[5]
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup represents another separate fixture in the series, often featuring club sides that qualify via different domestic achievements.
At the 2025 event, Al Wahda (UAE) triumphed over Al Wakrah (Qatar) on penalties (5–4) after a 1–1 draw in regular time to win the Challenge Cup.[4]
Challenge Shield
The Challenge Shield is another high‑profile match within the series format. In 2025, Shabab Al Ahli (UAE) defeated Al Rayyan (Qatar) 3–1 at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium to clinch the Challenge Shield title.[6][7]
Format
Since its expansion, the series typically involves eight clubs — four from Qatar and four from the UAE — selected based on domestic league and cup performance. Each competition is a standalone single‑match fixture, and all four matches are played over a brief period (usually a long weekend or week) to maximize fan engagement.
Venues alternate between both countries for the matches, with host cities including Doha and Abu Dhabi depending on the year.
Results (Selected)
| Date | Version |  Winners
|
 Runners-Up
|
Score | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 12, 2024 | Super Shield |  Al Arabi
|
 Sharjah
|
1-0 | Al Thumama
|
| April 13, 2024 | Super Cup | Shabab Al Ahli
|
Al Duhail
|
2-1 | Rashid
|
| January 16, 2025 | Challenge Shield | Shabab Al Ahli
|
Al Rayyan
|
3-1 | Ahmad Bin Ali
|
| January 17, 2025 | Super Cup | Al Nasr
|
Qatar
|
5-1 | Al Maktoum
|
| January 18, 2025 | Super Shield | Al Wasl
|
Al Sadd
|
1-0 | Jassim bin Hamad
|
| January 19, 2025 | Challenge Cup | Al Wahda
|
Al Wakra
|
1-1 (5-4) | Al Nahyan
|
| January 22, 2026 | Super Cup | Sharjah
|
Al Gharafa
|
1-1 (5-4) | Thani bin Jassim
|
| January 23, 2026 | Challenge Shield | Al Wahda
|
Al Duhail
|
1-0 | Al Nahyan
|
| January 24, 2026 | Challenge Cup | Al Sadd
|
Shabab Al Ahli
|
3-2 | Jassim bin Hamad
|
| January 25, 2026 | Super Shield | Al Ahli
|
Al Jazira
|
1-1 (4-3) | Mohammed bin Zayed
|
Summary
Emirati Clubs: 7
Qatari Clubs: 3
References
- ^ a b c "Champions' Challenge Returns: Third UAE–Qatar Super Cup Launches in January 2026". www.uaepl.ae. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
- ^ "Stage Set for Second Edition of Qatar-UAE Super Cup". QATAR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
- ^ Tribune, Qatar; QNA (2024-11-27). "Qatar-UAE Super Cup organising committee launches four tournaments in its second edition". Qatar Tribune. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
- ^ a b Levy, Uri (2025-01-20). "Emirati Clubs Dominate Qatar-UAE Super Cup Tournaments". BabaGol. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
- ^ "The Emperor crowned champion of the UAE-Qatar Super Shield "The Most Significant Event"". www.alwaslsc.ae. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
- ^ Baniya, Sudesh (2025-01-16). "Al Rayyan beaten at home as Shabab Al Ahli win Qatar-UAE Challenge Shield". Doha News | Qatar. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
- ^ Newspaper, The Peninsula (2025-01-17). "Qatar-UAE Super Cup: Shabab Al Ahli beat Al Rayyan to clinch Challenge Shield title". thepeninsulaqatar.com. Retrieved 2026-01-22.