Crowds cheer as traditional dancers greet the Queen

Abu Dhabi: Traditional Youla and Ayalla dancers greeted the Queen on the lawns of Emirates Palace and a crowd of 3,000 cheered, waving the UAE flag and Union Jack together at a colourful UK-UAE partnership event on Thursday.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nayhan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, met and showed the Queen around an exhibition representing the five pillars of Shaikh Zayed's legacy: history and society; people and heritage; land and water; faith and Islam; and science and learning at the event.

The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, Duke of York and Foreign Minister William Hague, was then shown the design of the Shaikh Zayed National Museum.

It is the first time that the design of the museum has been made public. The museum itself will be built on Saadiyat Island, off the coast of Abu Dhabi.

The Queen and the Vice-President then unveiled a commemorative plaque, before receiving flowers from the guests gathered to greet them.

Later today the Royal party will fly to Oman.

Zayed National Museum design and programme unveiled

The design and programme of the Zayed National Museum was officially unveiled on Thursday.

In memory of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the museum will reflect his life and work as well as the rich history of the UAE.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom unveiled a commemorative plaque at the event at Emirates Palace.

Set amongst lush gardens, the design features five soaring pavilions, representing the feathers of a falcon’s wing, reaching a height of 124 metres, towering over the glittering waters of the Arabian Gulf.

Commenting on the launch, President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said: "The Zayed National Museum is destined to become an inspiring permanent reminder of the vision handed down to us from the father of our nation, the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan to unite all Emiratis and build a strong and prosperous nation. As a fitting memorial and a national institution, the museum will serve as a symbol of our historic cultural roots and of the many achievements of our country, providing us with an incentive to continue building our country with the same will and determination."

The museum is set to stand alongside the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and the Louvre Abu Dhabi amongst the iconic Saadiyat Island Cultural District’s institutions.

Environmental sustainability is a key element in the Museum’s
design and architecture and construction of the museum is scheduled for completion in 2014.