Amr Diab and The Gipsy Kings to perform at du World Music Festival

Music legends and Arabic pop-stars are coming to Dubai to perform as part the du World Music Festival next month.

RnB legend George Benson is headlining a bill including Amr Diab, The Gipsy Kings and Salif Keita.

Beginning on March 7, the 10-day festival will feature 14 concerts, with half of the performances being offered for free. Concerts will be held in Burj Park and The Burj Steps.

Opening the festival at Burj Park is the Pakistani musician Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, with the Gipsy Kings playing the following night and Amr Diab on March 9.

Famed Egyptian composer Omar Khairat will take the stage at Burj Steps on March 15.

George Benson will team up with the British soul singer Gabrielle to close the festival at Burj Park on March 16.

While these events maybe ticketed, the free shows will have no shortage of star power with the legendary Afro-Pop singer Salif Keita, American jazz-man Pat Martino and Lebanon’s Assi El Helani all giving free performances at the Burj Steps.

This announcement may come as a relief for world music lovers as it arrives amid rumours that Womad Abu Dhabi could be cancelled this year.

As of yet there has been no lineup announced for the event - normally held in April on the Corniche - and the festival’s website has not been updated since last year. 

Calls to Womad in the UK on the future of the Abu Dhabi event have yet been returned.

For information on the du World Music Festival artists and tickets go to www.du.ae

sasaeed@thenational.ae