Kanye West set to play Abu Dhabi in January

US rapper Kanye West will perform at the du Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, in early 2013, it was announced on Wednesday.

West will be in the UAE capital on Thursday January 31, promoter Flash said on its website, adding that ticket prices will start at AED295.

West rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he became known for his work on fellow US rapper Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as on singles by artists such as Alicia Keys and Ludacris.

His debut album, College Dropout, was released in 2004, and he has since released four solo albums and one collaborative album with Jay-Z, all to critical acclaim.

West has racked up more than 25m digital sales in the US alone during his career, making him one of the country’s top-selling solo male artists.

Earlier this year, West premiered his new film at the Cannes International Film Festival.

Cruel Summer was set in Qatar and produced in association with the Doha Film Institute.

West was spotted filming outside the Qatari capital Doha in April, which he reportedly chose over the UAE as a backdrop for the shoot.