MUSCAT, SEPT 6
Oman Club’s handball team is stepping up preparations for the 42nd Gulf Handball Club Championship, scheduled to be held in Bahrain from November 21 to 30, 2026, with eight leading clubs from across the Gulf set to compete for the title.
The championship is regarded as one of the region’s major handball competitions and provides an important platform for Gulf clubs to test their strength against some of the most competitive teams in the region. The tournament was originally scheduled to take place in Bahrain in March but was postponed due to the political circumstances affecting the region. The organising committee subsequently decided to reschedule the event for November.
Oman Club will represent the Sultanate of Oman after securing its place in the competition by winning the Ministry Shield handball competition during the 2024-2025 season. The club enters the tournament with ambitions of producing a strong performance, achieving positive results and competing for a place among the leading teams.
The eight participating clubs are Oman Club of Oman, Al Rayyan and Al Arabi of Qatar, Kuwait Club of Kuwait, Al Ahli and Al Shabab of Bahrain, Sharjah of the UAE, and Al Mohit of Saudi Arabia.
Oman Club’s technical staff are working on an intensive preparation programme designed to ensure the team reaches the tournament in optimal condition. The programme will focus on improving physical fitness, strengthening coordination among the players and developing the team’s technical and tactical capabilities.
The club is also looking to reinforce its squad with foreign players as part of its preparations for the demanding Gulf competition. The additions are expected to provide greater depth and strength as Oman Club prepares to face a number of experienced sides.
The Gulf championship also comes at an important stage in Oman Club’s season, with the tournament taking place ahead of the start of the Oman Handball Federation’s 2026-2027 competitions.
Among the club’s main domestic objectives is the First Division Handball League, where Oman Club will seek to retain the title for a sixth consecutive season and increase its league championship tally to 11 titles.
The club will also compete for the Oman Super Cup and the Federation Cup, which will be held this season in place of the Ministry Shield competition.
Oman Club previously hosted the Gulf Handball Club Championship in February 2025, when eight teams participated. The clubs were divided into two groups, with Group A featuring Saudi Arabia’s Al Noor, Oman’s Al Seeb, Qatar’s Al Rayyan and Bahrain’s Al Najma. Group B comprised Oman Club, Kuwait Club, UAE side Dibba Al Hisn and Qatar’s Al Arabi.
With the Gulf championship serving as an important test ahead of the domestic season, Oman Club will look to use its preparations effectively and enter the competition with the aim of delivering a performance worthy of Oman’s growing reputation in regional handball.
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