Ball for a good cause in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi: Dozens of celebrities are in Abu Dhabi for one of the world’s most expensive sporting events, but last night they showed that they’ve got some of the world’s neediest people at heart too.

The Grand Prix Ball, a charity ball held on the sidelines of the Formula One, attracted the likes of Janet Jackson, Neve Campbell, Jeremy Irons and Kimberley Stewart, who all walked the red carpet ahead of a charity auction in aid of fresh2o, a campaign to provide clean water to poor communities around the world.

Held at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, the stars spent the evening at a black tie dinner, sitting at the head table in front of the stage where Peter Grant and the Gipsy Kings performed.

The auction included items such as a private round of golf with Nick Faldo for Dh85,000, a meet and greet with Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson for Dh110,00 and a first class trip to the Virgin Galactic launch accompanied by Richard Branson – for a tidy Dh220,000.

Jackson, dressed in a red Alexander McQueen gown, provided a surprise at the end of the auction, giving away four front-row tickets to one of her concerts and the chance to meet her backstage.

The lot sold for a song – Dh250,000. Though she posed with some guests, Jackson spent the evening surrounded by bodyguards and only offered soft-voiced ‘hellos’ to the fascinated guests.