UAE-Egypt football cross-promotion to continue with UAE Super Cup in Cairo

John McAuley reports the Arabian Gulf Super Cup is expected to be played in Egypt next month, the first time the UAE will kick off its football season outside the Emirates.

Al Ain won the 2015 Arabian Gulf Super Cup. Photo: Aletihad

The Arabian Gulf Super Cup, traditionally UAE football’s season opener, is expected to be played in Egypt next month, the first time in history it will take place outside the Emirates.

Speculation has been rife for the past few months that the match between Arabian Gulf League winners Al Ahli and President's Cup holders Al Jazira would be moved abroad. The fixture, initially slated for August 14, is said to have now been scheduled for September 13.

The Pro League Committee seem set to confirm the news at a press conference in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, with the showpiece encounter most likely to be held in Cairo. Sharm El Sheikh was also mooted as a possible location.

• Related: Egypt's Al Ahly defeat Italy's AS Roma in Al Ain – in pictures

Relations between the UAE and Egyptian football associations are strong, with Egypt's Super Cup between Al Ahly and Zamalek held in Al Ain last October, while in May the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium also hosted a friendly between Ahly and Italian giants AS Roma.

Both events were a huge success, and it is believed the two Egyptian companies involved in organising those matches had each put forward a proposal to take the UAE Super Cup to Egypt. Last year, the Saudi Super Cup moved to London’s Loftus Road, home of Queens Park Rangers, and will again take place next week at the nearby Craven Cottage.

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