What’s On can exclusively reveal that British singer Lily Allen has signed a deal to perform in Dubai before the year is out


Big gig announcements continue this week with our sources telling us the Alright, Still singer will be just one of the artists performing at a large-scale event taking place in Dubai.

We can rule out any chance the award-winning star will be a late addition to next month’s Sandance line-up, and can confirm the show will be in 2014, ending speculation she might feature at either Blended or RedFest next year.

Allen, who first broke through with her catchy pop track Smile way back in 2006, has achieved critical and mainstream success across her three studio albums, and most recently charted in her home country and the rest of Europe with this year’s Sheezus.

Originally thrust into the limelight as the daughter of British actor Keith Allen and film producer Allison, she has more than outdone both of her parents, with Grammy and Mercury Music Prize nominations.

This summer saw the 29-year-old take to the festival circuit alongside the likes of The Killers and Sam Smith at V in the UK.

Allen’s visit to the region will be her first, and comes at a time when barely a week goes by without a  leading act or show being announced.

Earlier this month, Sandance and Sensation triumphantly announced stellar casts for their respective parties. At Atlantis The Palm on October 10, Rudimental, Empire Of The Sun, Clean Bandit, De La Soul, and Axwell and Ingrosso are all set to appear, and three weeks later, Martin Garrix will headline a record-breaking event at Meydan. Take That frontman Gary Barlow, meanwhile, also confirmed his first show in the region, on October 17, and, as we told you first, DJ Jazzy Jeff will revisit Barasti for Halloween, setting tongues wagging in the Emirate over a potential double-act with old pal Will Smith.

Furthermore, details of the F1 Weekend line-up are expected imminently.

As always, What’s On will be working overtime to make sure we get you all the information on any event as soon as possible.