There's a first-team squad from Wiltshire boarding a plane to the Gulf later this month, and it's not the kind of thing you'd usually associate with a National League South side. Salisbury FC have confirmed they'll fly out to Kuwait on 27 September for a four-day trip, culminating in a friendly against Kuwaiti Premier League side Al-Qadsia on 30 September at the 22,000-capacity Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium.
This isn't some randomly-drawn exhibition fixture. It's the logical next step in a relationship that's been building since June 2025, when Salisbury announced a change of ownership: Kuwaiti businessman Ali Alhamad, operating through his UK-registered company Proleague Ltd, took control of the club. Alhamad has roots in real estate and a newer interest in blockchain and crypto, and by his own admission this isn't a money-making venture as he's called it something closer to a passion project, an "ambassador" role for his country as much as a football investment.
Salisbury are far from the first English lower-league club to attract Gulf money - Wrexham's Hollywood-fuelled rise has made owning a struggling non-league outfit newly fashionable, but the Kuwaiti connection specifically goes back further than people might assume. Ebbsfleet United became the first Kuwaiti-owned English club back in 2013, and Alhamad now becomes the second. Since taking over, he's also picked up Andover Town, who play in the eleventh tier of the pyramid, run by his business partner Mohammad Alkandari.
The commercial framing matters here. The club has been explicit that 100% of the commercial profits from the trip come back into Salisbury, and 100% of ticket sales for the friendly go back to the club too. There's also been a grassroots dimension to the relationship already: over the summer, 400 Kuwaiti trialists took part in an event for the chance to train with Salisbury, with three eventually spending nine days at the club.
Al-Qadsia themselves are no makeweight opponent. Nicknamed "the Royal Club," they're one of Kuwait's oldest and most successful sides, with 17 domestic league titles to their name, and they currently sit third in the Kuwait Premier League. It's a serious step up in level for a Salisbury side who finished 17th in National League South last season but have had a strong start to this one.
Salisbury have been careful with the scheduling - the squad depart after their league fixture against Folkestone Invicta and are back in time to prepare for the FA Cup third qualifying round, where they've been drawn at home to Dulwich Hamlet at the Ray Mac. Given how much recent focus at Salisbury has been on ownership and off-field ambition, a cup run to go with the Kuwait trip would round off an eventful few weeks nicely.
+18 | Please gamble responsibly | Commercial content | T&Cs apply GambleAware.com
