DOHA: Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, President of the Arabian Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF) and President of the Qatar Football Association, welcomed the participation of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain to the 24th edition of the Gulf Cup to be held in the Qatari capital Doha from Nov 26 to Dec 8. The AGCFF President said "the Gulf Cup means a lot to the people of the region and its fans as it is classified as a permanent forum for all the Gulf brothers - who usually compete sportingly - to showcase their football skills." He stressed that the Gulf Cup presented a great opportunity to separate politics from sports. The QFA chief wished the teams and the visiting fans a pleasant stay in Qatar capital for the entire duration of the tournament. Qatar are three-time champions of the event.