Jackson expected to arrive in UK

Michael Jackson is expected to arrive in the UK over the weekend

Michael Jackson is expected to arrive in the UK to give evidence at the High Court over claims he breached a music contract with an Arab sheikh.

It is thought fans will gather to support him, but court officials are issuing a limited number of passes.

The King of Bahrain's son, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, is suing Mr Jackson for £4.7m, claiming he reneged on a music contract.

Mr Jackson contests the claim, saying there was no valid agreement.

'Personal relationship'

Sheikh Abdulla says he paid all the singer's living, travel and other expenses until his departure from Bahrain in 2006, and advanced funds to retain legal and financial advisers.

Mr Jackson claims the payments were "gifts".

The Thriller star was invited with his children and entourage to Bahrain, shortly after he was acquitted of child molestation charges in California.

While there, the sheikh lavished money on him.

Sheikh Abdulla also built a recording studio, which he believed would be used to record albums using material he had helped to write.

Sheikh Abdulla and Michael Jackson formed a close friendship

However Mr Jackson apparently pulled out of the deal in May 2006 after 11 months and has not seen the sheikh since.

On Monday Mr Jackson will come face to face again with the sheikh who said he believed he had formed "a close personal relationship" with the star.

Now Sheikh Abdulla says he wants nothing more to do with him and is suing to get his money back.

At the start of the hearing which began last week, Mr Jackson's lawyer, Robert Englehart QC, applied for the star to give his evidence by video link from Los Angeles because of concerns about his health.

But the application was withdrawn after medical experts said Mr Jackson was fit enough to travel.