Kuwait open the 27th Gulf Cup against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Wednesday 23 September — which is also Saudi National Day. Anyone flying in for the match, or driving through the kingdom that day, has a notice from Kuwait’s embassy in Riyadh to read first.
What the embassy is asking
Citizens visiting or passing through are told to follow the rules that govern National Day celebrations, and three are spelled out: do not raise any foreign flag, do not put stickers on cars carrying sectarian or tribal slogans or pictures, and do not organise unlicensed processions.
The embassy’s stated reason is travellers’ own safety and avoiding any legal action by the Saudi authorities.
The supporters’ flights
The Kuwait Football Association has started handing out match tickets to travelling fans, and has laid on three Kuwait Airways flights on match day:
- CKU5789: leaves Kuwait 14:15, lands Jeddah 16:45; returns 02:20, lands Kuwait 04:35.
- CKU5785: leaves 14:30, lands 16:50; returns 02:30, lands 04:45.
- CKU5787: leaves 15:00, lands 17:20; returns 03:05, lands 05:20.
So the return legs take off after midnight and bring fans home early on Thursday 24 September.
One number to save
Foreign Ministry consular contact centre: 00965159.
Photo: The Jeddah Corniche on the Red Sea. Tahir mq, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Source: Statement by the Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Saudi Arabia, via Al-Seyassah and Al-Anba, 21–22 September 2026; Kuwait Football Association, via Al-Jarida, 21 September 2026.
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