Stars Hussain Al Jassmi, Balqees Fathi and Eida Al Menhali to open Asian Cup
Three of the UAE’s biggest stars will perform during the opening ceremony of the AFC Asian Cup.
Emirati singers Hussain Al Jassmi and Eida Al Menhali, as well as Yemeni-Emirati singer Balqees Fathi, will take the stage at Zayed Sports City Stadium on Saturday at 7.30pm before the opening match between hosts the UAE and Bahrain.
The event will feature a series of live musical performances that pay tribute to Asian football and follow the theme of “Bringing Asia Together”.
The show will also tell the tale of the tournament mascot Mansour – an Emirati boy enthralled by the beauty of the flight of falcons.
Inspired by their gracious movements, he extends an Emirati welcome to Asia and the rest of the world.
The Local Organising Committee has also revealed that as many as 600 expert performers from the UAE and around the world will participate in the live extravaganza, which will include drummers, Ayalla dancers and origami falcons.
Al Jassmi is one of the Middle East’s top-selling artists and made history in December when he became the first Arab artist to perform at the Vatican’s annual Christmas concert.
Balqees made her musical debut in 2013 and her album Zay Ma Ana was the most downloaded album on iTunes in the Middle East in 2015.
Al Menhali is best known for his hit single Motasoa and he last performed at the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival for New Year’s Eve. Fans who plan on attending are asked to be in their seats by 7.30pm.