Afif's star showing on home soil is only likely to reignite talk of a move to Europe, where the 27-year-old previously plied his trade, in Belgium and Spain, with modest success.
Afif's star showing
Afif netted three penalties in the 3-1 victory over Jordan, and he bagged a treble of individual awards: player of the match, most valuable player of the tournament, and top scorer.
He was also one of Qatar's best players as they won the Asian Cup held in the UAE in 2019, registering a tournament record 10 assists.
Opposition coaches who have faced him have praised his skills, with Tajikistan's Petar Segrt saying it was only a question of time and whether the Qatar forward wanted to return to Europe.
A penalty against Palestine secured Qatar a 2-1 win in the last 16 and Afif also scored in the 3-2 penalty shoot-out win over Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals.
A fine individual goal gave Qatar the lead as they came from behind to beat Iran 3-2 in the semi-finals before Afif stole the show in the final, scoring the first treble of the tournament and writing his name in the record books as the only player to have scored three penalties in an Asian Cup final.
Previous record in Europe
Since leading Qatar to the 2019 title with a tournament record 10 assists, Afif has become one of Asia's most-feared players.
At the start of this tournament, he said he had dreams of returning to Europe having previously played for Eupen in the Belgian Pro League, scoring eight goals in 26 appearances.
He later became the first Qatari player to be signed by a La Liga club when he moved to Villarreal in 2016. He was loaned out to Sporting Gijon, making 11 appearances mainly from the bench, before returning to Eupen on a one-year loan in July 2017. A solitary goal in 16 appearances prompted a move to Al Sadd in January 2018, where Afif has flourished, winning three Qatar Stars League titles, two Emir and Qatar Cups, the Sheikh Jassim Cup and the Qatar Stars Cup.
"I talked about becoming a professional player [in Europe], but it's not me who decides. My wife also has to make the decision for me. It's not easy to leave the club and country," Afif told reporters after the final.
But he added: "I'd love to become a professional player [in Europe] ... I'd say I would love to go."
For now, he will enjoy helping Qatar become only the fifth country to successfully defend their Asian Cup crown.
"We're happy and we will enjoy until the next Asian Cup. Then we'll see what happens," he added.
Gulf players' track record in Europe
While many players from Arab countries and the Mena region have starred in Europe, only one player from the Gulf can really be considered a success.
Oman goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi played 10 games for Bolton Wanderers between 2006-2011, including a standout performance against German giants Bayern Munich in the Uefa Cup.
Al Habsi would also go on to play for Brighton & Hove Albion and Reading in England's second tier and ended his career as back-up at West Bromwich Albion before retiring in 2020.
UAE playmaker Omar Abdulrahman was long touted to make the move to Europe, with Manchester City and clubs from Spain and Portugal credited with an interest.
No move ever materialised though, with Abdulrahman instead remaining in the Emirates plying his trade for Al Ain, Al Jazira, Shabab Al Ahli as well as a brief spell in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal.
Now 32, Abdulrahman plays his club football with Dubai club Al Wasl.
Qatar's players celebrate on the podium after their 3-1 victory against Jordan in the AFC Asian Cup final at Lusail Stadium. EPA
Qatar's players celebrate with the 2023 AFC Asian Cup trophy. AFP
Qatar's team lift the trophy after winning the AFC Asian Cup final against Jordan. AP
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani stands by as his team's forward Hassan Al Haydos receives the 2023 AFC Asian Cup trophy. AFP
Qatar forward Akram Afif celebrates with the Most Valuable Player Award trophy. AFP
Khaled Mohammed and Ahmed Al Ganehi of Qatar lift the AFC Asian Cup trophy. Getty Images
Qatar players celebrate at full-time. AP
Qatar's Akram Afif celebrates after scoring his hat-trick. AP
Qatar's Akram Afif celebrates after scoring his third goal. AP
Akram Afif of Qatar is fouled by Jordan keeper Yazeed Abulaila to concede a penalty that led to the third goal for the striker. Getty Images
Qatar's Akram Afif, second left, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal. AP
Qatar's Akram Afif celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates. Reuters
Jordan's Salem Al Ajalin is consoled after the match. Reuters
Yazan Al Naimat of Jordan celebrates scoring his side's first goal. Getty Images
Yazan Al Naimat shoots to score his team's first goal. AFP
Jordan's Yazan Al Naimat scores his team's opener. AFP
Yazan Al Naimat of Jordan celebrates scoring their equaliser to make it 1-1. Getty Images
Akram Afif of Qatar celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal. Getty Images
Qatar's Akram Afif, left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal with teammates. AP
Akram Afif of Qatar scores his team's first goal from the penalty spot. Getty Images
Qatar's Akram Afif scores his side's opening goal with a penalty. AP
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.
Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.
Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.
Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
