International celebrities will join a ‘who’s who’ of the UAE’s high society at this year's 'Abu Dhabi Chequered Flag Ball,' one of the traditional precursors to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the emirate’s largest sporting event.

With the UK’s R&B signing sensation, Beverly Knight, and racing boss, Eddie Jordan, leading the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority-backed ball’s on-stage entertainment, a range of exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime lots will go under the auctioneer’s hammer to raise donations for the UK’s leading children’s cancer charity, CLIC Sargent.

Joining Knight and Jordan on the ‘heritage red’ carpet at the InterContinental Hotel, Abu Dhabi on November 12 will be leading Hollywood A-lister, Hugh Grant, top British model, Kelly Brook and tennis legend, Boris Becker - a six-time Grand Slam winner.

“I can’t think of a more glamorous way to celebrate the start of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix than at the Chequered Flag Ball,” said Knight, who has performed with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Prince, Take That and Coldplay front-man, Chris Martin.

“I’ll be performing songs from ‘100%’, my most recent album, as well a selection of my most famous hits, including Shoulda Woulda Coulda.”

Fittingly, a cache of distinguished names from F1 will also be there. Scotland’s 13-time grand prix winner, David Coulthard, who racked up 62 podium finishes and 535 points during a 14-year racing career, will join former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi and leading F1 commentator, Martin Brundle, in jostling for position on the red carpet.

Swiss chef Jacques Rossel will prepare a special five-course menu and guests will have the chance to take home an array of big ticket items from the main and silent auctions.

Top of the most wanted list will be lots for a luxurious trip for four to the Monaco Grand Prix, a chance to walk the red carpet at the Brit Awards and join the highly-exclusive post-show party in the Brits VIP Club, a five-night trip to Cape Town, a one-off World Rally Championship weekend and an opportunity to be one of the first in the world to get your hands on the Official Ferrari Opus.

A specially-crafted Muhammed Ali commemorative pen, designed by Montegrappa, Italy’s premier pen manufacturer, is expected to be another huge draw. Only 1942 – the year the three-time world heavyweight champion was born – of the pens were made.

With a total reserve list of Dh300,000, organisers are confident of pooling together a major donation for the CLIC Sargent charity.

"We are fully committed to easing the burden of childhood cancer on the young victims and their families through CLIC Sargent,” said Jordan, who will perform with his band, ‘Eddie and the Robbers’.  “We are continuously looking for support and investment and we believe that in Abu Dhabi we have a very generous partner.

“I'm confident that this auction will raise significant donations and that people attending the Chequered Flag Ball will give enormously. It is great to be able to help bring everyone together for a noble cause in such a great setting.”-TradeArabia News Service