Bassey and Branson make a date with history

British superstar Dame Shirley Bassey is to headline the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Ball in the capital this month, organisers told Emirates Business.

The 72-year-old Welsh singer – who maintains her position as the UK's most successful female artist of all time with sales of 135 million albums – will be performing for free for a 600-strong crowd at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club on October 31, comprising celebrities, VIPs and residents.

The star-studded event, which organisers say will cost Dh5 million, has been dubbed one of the capital's race-week highlights.It will see Bassey supported by the Gipsy Kings, and operatic tenor Jean Luc Viala.

Other big name guests set to attend the charity event include British racing duo Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay, R&B singer/ songwriter Alicia Keys, Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson and broadcast legend Sir David Frost.

All celebrity guests attending and performing at the event have given up their appearance fee to raise funds for the UK-registered charity, fresh2o, whose mission is to reduce poverty, improve health and prevent death by enabling the provision of clean water for drinking and sanitation purposes globally.

James Magee, CEO of Global Event Management (GEM), organiser of the ball, said: "The motto of fresh2o is Live and Don't Let Die, so there will be a James Bond theme to the ball. Dame Shirley, the voice behind many of the James Bond movies' hit scores [Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker] is expected to arrive in Abu Dhabi fresh from her only full live performance this year at the BBC's Electric Proms on October 23. She has verbally agreed to waive her appearance fee."

According to booking agencies contacted by Emirates Business, the legendary singer can apparently fetch up to $500,000 (Dh1.8m) per appearance. As well as guests giving up their appearance fees, Magee confirmed around a third of the night's proceeds will go to fresh2o, which will be aided by a top-tier charity auction.

Despite tickets just going on sale today, GEM has already received advance bookings for more than half the seating and anticipate more celebrity confirmations over the coming days.

"This is a milestone in the history of the Grand Prix Ball, which debuted 13 years ago in Monaco," said Magee. "The ball is an excellent corporate entertaining function, which will be a highlight of the Abu Dhabi's race week."

Faisal Al Sheikh, Head of the Major Events Division at the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority said: "In the run-up to, and during race week, we will implement a number of visitor enhancements, which will engage both residents and tourists alike."

Reservations for the Grand Prix Ball Abu Dhabi, with a table for ten costing Dh25,000. To book, visit www.geventm.com or call 04 381 0549.


Watts tops Meiff weekend bill

The third Middle East International Film Festival draws to a close with some stellar action in Abu Dhabi this weekend, with Hollywood actress and producer Naomi Watts interacting with audience in an informal event tomorrow.

And for movie fans, Emirates Business picks the top films of the weekend.

TODAY

Precious Lee Daniels's audience award-winner at Sundance is a brave and emotionally charged adaptation of Claireece 'Precious' Jones, a morbidly obese girl who is pregnant for the second time with her own father's baby.

At 9.15pm, Cinestar Marina Mall.

Burma VJ Denmark's Anders Hogsbro Ostergaard reports from one of the world's most closed and censured societies. At 4pm, Cinestar Marina Mall.

Kerala Café Ten 10-minute films by different filmmakers spotlight the present-day lives of Keralites. Conceptualised by K Renjith. At 9.15pm, Cinestar Marina Mall.

TOMORROW

A Conversation With Naomi Watts A one-off opportunity for the filmgoing public to interact informally with a major player in the film industry. Entry is free on a first-come, first-served basis. At 3pm, Meiff Festival Tent.

Capitalism: A Love Story Michael Moore returns with this exposé on how corporations, culture and government policies led to the economic meltdown. At 9.30pm, Emirates Palace Auditorium

The Time That Remains (Al Zaman Al Baqi) Festival director Peter Scarlet calls this film, by Palestinian director Elia Suleiman, the year's best. At 3.45pm, Cinestar Marina Mall.

SATURDAY

The Men Who Stare At Goats George Clooney and Ewan McGregor star in this dark comedy inspired by a real-life story about an enigmatic Special Forces operator on a mind-boggling mission. At 8pm, Emirates Palace Auditorium.

About Elly (Darbareye Elly) A tense portrait of a woman who disappears on a trip to Iran's Caspian Sea, Asghar Farhadi's film is considered one of the best of this year. At 3.45pm, Cinestar Marina Mall.

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