Sir Tom Jones will return to perform in Abu Dhabi in 2016

He’s back. Sir Tom Jones will perform in Abu Dhabi on April 15.

The legendary crooner marks the first act to be revealed by promoters Flash for the 2016 season.

The 75-year-old singer will return to Du Forum — the smaller 5,000-capacity venue neighbouring du Arena — following his last performance at the venue in September 2013.

Jones has been busying in the intervening years, recently releasing his 41st studio album, Long Lost Suitcase, and penning his new autobiography Over the Top and Back.

Jones first found fame five decades back, scoring hits in the 1960s with trademark anthems It's Not Unusual, Delilah and Bond theme Thunderball.

After a period of commercial decline, the Welsh vocalist courted a successful return to the public eye with 1999's duets album Reload, which featured guest turns from contemporary artists such as Stereophonics, Robbie Williams and Portishead.

In same year Jones was made an OBE by the British Queen. He later received a Knighthood in 2006.

• Tickets, priced at Dh350 or Dh450 for Golden Circle access, go on sale on Tuesday November 24 at noon from www.ticketmaster.ae, and from all branches of Virgin Megastores.

'Saand Ki Aankh'

Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.