Justin Timberlake will perform in Abu Dhabi later this year, it has been revealed.  

As expected, an announcement on Thursday morning confirmed what many had hoped, that the 20/20 Experience star will bring his show to the du Arena, Yas Island on May 23.

Expectation had been high after a clip swarmed around the internet this week, showing a hand writing #jtuae across a silhouette of a man who looks like the snake-hipped singer. Seconds later the date 09.01.2014 appears on screen, alerting fans to an announcement on January 9.

Tickets go on sale on Thursday January 16 at midday and will be available at ticketmaster.ae and selected Virgin Megastores. There will also be a pre-sale for MasterCard cardholders (January 13), and du and Flash customers (January 14-15).

Justin last played the UAE in 2007 when he brought his Justified tour to Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace. The set wowed more than 13,000 Timberlake fans and featured hits such as Rocky Your Body, What Goes Around and Cry Me A River, the song famously rumoured to be about his ex girlfriend Britney Spears.

Justin’s latest album was the biggest selling album of 2013 with over 2m units shifted. It spawned the hit singles Suit & Tie, Mirrors and Let The Groove Get In. His work in 2013 was recognised in the 2014 Grammy nominations in which he was put forward for seven awards. In November he won Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist at the 2013 American Music Awards.

As well as music, Justin, who is married to Jessica Biel, has been continuing his acting career with a portrayal of a folk musician in the Coen brothers’ latest movie Inside Llewyn Davis. The movie, whose soundtrack was part written by the former N-Sync star, was shown at the recent Dubai International Film Festival.