All-singing, all-dancing tribute to the Emirates

Stars Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Zarine Khan will join singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Sophie Choudry for a performance at Festival City.

DUBAI // Bollywood stars will enthrall audiences today in a three-hour concert at Dubai Festival City.

About 15,000 people are expected to attend a song and dance performance by the actor and entertainer Salman Khan, actresses Priyanka Chopra and Zarine Khan, singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and singer-turned actress Sophie Choudry.

"We want to celebrate National Day and make the day happier," said Raj Sahni, chairman of Creative Hub Events.

"Most of our crowd will be UAE locals because of Salman Khan. We will also have Saudi nationals and Omanis, apart from Indians attending the show."

The event will also include some UAE expatriates dancing with the stars. Sudhakshina Shivkumar, 19, is one.

The final-year Indian student from Manipal University's Dubai campus was chosen after two rounds of auditions at the Dance like a Star event last week.

"I danced on two Bollywood numbers," said Ms Shivkumar. "It's not sunk in yet that I am going to be dancing with Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra. It's a great opportunity and I am excited."

The event will be held in Festival City's open arena. Organisers said the weather bureau had not forecast any rain on National Day and expected conditions to be good.