For the second year running, ON THE SLY worked with Progress Productions and Done+Dusted Middle East to create the music and audio for the opening ceremony of the UAE President’s Cup Final, one of the most prestigious fixtures in the country’s football calendar.

Staged at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, the ceremony took place in front of more than 20,000 fans and combined large-scale visuals, projection mapping across the pitch, lighting, lasers and pyrotechnics to mark the moment ahead of kick-off.  

ON THE SLY composed a bespoke musical score for the ceremony, supported by sound design and textural elements designed to unify the visual spectacle and reinforce the ceremonial tone of the event. The music carried a sense of authority and momentum, helping build anticipation as the stadium atmosphere rose ahead of the match.

The ceremony set the tone for the final, using music and sound to heighten the sense of occasion as the teams entered the pitch and the stadium built towards kick-off.

This project forms part of ON THE SLY’s work delivering music and sound direction for sporting ceremonies and large-scale opening shows around the world.