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Players stand on the pitch prior to the game between United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. AFP
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Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, right; FIFA President Gianni Infantino, center; and UAE officials attend the opening ceremony of 2019 AFC Asian Cup. AFP
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Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Mr. Infantino and officials attend the opening ceremony. AFP
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The opening ceremony of 2019 AFC Asian Cup. AFP
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Men perform during the opening ceremony. AP Photo
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From left: Balqees Fathi, Hussain Al Jassmi and Eida Al Menhali perform during the opening ceremony. AFP
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Hussain Al Jassmi performs during the opening ceremony. AFP
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Balqees Fathi performs during the opening ceremony. AFP
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Eida Al Menhali peforms during the opening ceremony. AFP
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Artists perform during the opening ceremony. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7DNRX7HKLDJOMWL4H324Q6XRMA.jpg?smart=true&auth=166ee3c736d37e240c346fffca875b0e1eda1275a7636b94c68d9dfb613d0786&width=400&height=225)
Artists perform during the opening ceremony. EPA
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The opening ceremony. AFP
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Opening ceremony of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. AFP
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Players stand on the pitch prior to the game between United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O7IMIR3RHI7DQZ26CZR2VPLVVU.jpg?smart=true&auth=f4aee28d693751160bb43bac8e96aed816e3db7f1d95e0622167149901e17d93&width=400&height=225)
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, right; FIFA President Gianni Infantino, center; and UAE officials attend the opening ceremony of 2019 AFC Asian Cup. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y5GLR3CXL2KUGV45OHSUAA47QU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d73d1a36b7e7e51c295333fe8c9572f200b1375b35ea8e191aec56e42cccbe27&width=400&height=225)
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Mr. Infantino and officials attend the opening ceremony. AFP
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The opening ceremony of 2019 AFC Asian Cup. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NLVOGH3MQ3CGOPAI5FI2AHX5AU.jpg?smart=true&auth=3b8c3ebd1a2f040d8205142ef477d1ad36381ad8d38d59bb8cf8367ae991be56&width=400&height=225)
Men perform during the opening ceremony. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L5MXCL2INF5G7ACVJ5RUK5ZPHA.jpg?smart=true&auth=578f37b302393d90073faa1e34601bf52cc3ca60a483c8a9b85a43b851427091&width=400&height=225)
From left: Balqees Fathi, Hussain Al Jassmi and Eida Al Menhali perform during the opening ceremony. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CUYDDJKDITUWKIZ47MFABTGBRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=51fd73e30b3045a1b470b2cbe11175a1ce70ed6e838cafdf7b8588a44d542f0d&width=400&height=225)
Hussain Al Jassmi performs during the opening ceremony. AFP
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Balqees Fathi performs during the opening ceremony. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3F2MLGCXM3LH4J5QWZJWEL67AA.jpg?smart=true&auth=826ae4bfa4b6e913bf5e4a8178c2da41719de6a3af58cc85cd6e24c2e21837c1&width=400&height=225)
Eida Al Menhali peforms during the opening ceremony. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QYEXCPMJ3ELCFXLHCI45VNDSA4.jpg?smart=true&auth=82f0ecfa968b30956f7958d559e051a48b9f643de84f3863ed27f50787c64878&width=400&height=225)
Artists perform during the opening ceremony. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7DNRX7HKLDJOMWL4H324Q6XRMA.jpg?smart=true&auth=166ee3c736d37e240c346fffca875b0e1eda1275a7636b94c68d9dfb613d0786&width=400&height=225)
Artists perform during the opening ceremony. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BUUYS63FVQJINRIRFGNQYALIUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=add647fce8c7f45539c182d3d7741a829b9506a3720095a7d1105bdd389bffa2&width=400&height=225)
The opening ceremony. AFP
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Opening ceremony of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. AFP
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Players stand on the pitch prior to the game between United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. AFP
2019 Asian Cup gets under way with opening ceremony - in pictures
Three of the UAE's biggest stars performed during the opening ceremony at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi
![Steve Luckings](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fc3f09fc7-120b-42cf-8d44-356b28942fc4.png?smart=true&auth=a93b70171c6cc57bca013126f7257d62461086283c1cf22d9d4adcdbc940d865&width=70&height=70)
Steve Luckings
15 June, 2019
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