Fans travel more than 7 hours to Doha “by land” in support of the national team

A number of national team fans expressed their great happiness at being behind Al-Abyad and supporting it against the teams of Oman (today) and Qatar (next Tuesday) in the Asian qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup, stressing that their trip to Doha by land by car represents a distinctive national experience that combines enthusiasm, belonging and pride, amid an atmosphere of confidence and optimism in achieving historic qualification.
The fans confirmed to Emirates Today that the travel procedures were easy and convenient, and that the trip from the Emirates to Doha took only seven to eight hours through land ports, noting that the atmosphere in Qatar was full of enthusiasm and was filled with Emirati slogans and flags in the various streets and areas where the public gathered.
The head of the Baniyas Club Fans Association, Hariz Al Menhali, confirmed that he has not missed any national team match for more than 40 years, whether inside or outside the country, pointing out that Emirati fans have already begun arriving to Doha by land to support Al-Abyad in his journey towards the World Cup.
Al-Minhali said: “Qatar does not need planes, the distance is very close, and the trip by land takes five to seven hours by car, and most of the fans will go in their cars. Only from Baniyas we have more than 50 fans traveling with me, and this is just my group, and there are other large groups from different emirates of the country.”
He added: “We encountered easy things while traveling, whether at the border post between the Emirates and Saudi Arabia or between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and the road was very wonderful and easy, which made the trip comfortable and fast for everyone.”
He continued: “We have already begun organizing the attendance of fans for the Oman match on October 11, and the second match against Qatar on the 14th of the same month, and we will remain in Doha until the end of the journey, God willing. The atmosphere in Doha is very enthusiastic, as Emirati fans’ cars are spread out on its streets from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and everyone is living in a state of pride and a shared dream of seeing white in the World Cup. Tickets are available, and the state has provided everything from trips and facilities. “And support, and the opportunity is now very close to achieving the dream of all of us of reaching the World Cup.”
Al-Menhali concluded: “Morale is very high, and the team includes distinguished names that augur well.” We are behind them wholeheartedly, and God willing, we will soon celebrate the realization of the UAE’s great dream.”
For his part, fan Badr Darwish expressed his pride in participating for the first time in the national team’s fans’ trip abroad, describing the experience as full of enthusiasm and beautiful memories.
Darwish said: “We are a large group of friends who decided to travel together to encourage the national team from the stands. We feel that we are one family representing the nation in this mission. The atmosphere is wonderful and the enthusiasm is great, and we are all confident in the ability of the Whites to overcome the Asian stage and qualify for the World Cup.”
He added: “I will travel with a group of fans to participate in the public event that will be held on Friday in Souq Waqif, which includes raising the largest flag of the UAE in a celebratory march symbolizing support for the national team. The atmosphere will be special and full of pride and belonging.”
As for the fan, Abdul Rahman Muhammad, he said that he obtained special leave from his employer to travel with the team to Doha, stressing that the trip, which took about seven to eight hours, was comfortable and full of patriotic spirit.
Abdul Rahman said: “The atmosphere is wonderful on the road. Traveling with groups is a special pleasure. National songs fill the cars, and we all experience a white atmosphere of encouragement before even arriving in Doha.”
He added: “I traveled a lot behind the team, whether in the Asian Cup or the Arab Cup in Qatar, but this time is completely different. For the first time, I feel real optimism, and I expect the team to perform strongly and achieve the dream of all of us of reaching the World Cup.”