Khaleeji 27 opening ceremony in Jeddah set to last 12 minutes

The opening ceremony of the Arabian Gulf Cup, Khaleeji 27, is expected to last about 12 minutes, according to Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiya.

The tournament begins on Wednesday at Alinma Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, shortly before Saudi Arabia face Kuwait in the opening match of Group A.

The local organising committee has completed the main preparations for the ceremony and has finalised the programme for the event.

Final rehearsals for the various parts of the ceremony will take place at Alinma Stadium on Tuesday, as organisers complete the arrangements for the start of the Gulf competition.

The programme will feature a series of artistic and performance segments, including songs and chants linked to the occasion, alongside a range of other shows.

The ceremony will conclude with fireworks before attention turns to the opening fixture between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

During the final rehearsals, the local organising committee is reviewing the details of the event and checking that all operational aspects connected with the opening programme are ready.

Jeddah’s involvement gives Khaleeji 27 particular significance. The coastal city is hosting the Arabian Gulf Cup for the first time, joining the list of Gulf cities to have staged matches in the competition since its launch.

The 27th edition will involve eight national teams, divided into two groups.

Group A consists of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Kuwait, while Group B contains Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Yemen.

The opening ceremony will therefore form the formal start of a tournament being hosted in Jeddah for the first time, before the first competitive meeting of the competition between the Saudi and Kuwaiti teams.