Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday exchanged orders on the second day of the British monarch's visit.
The two countries also signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement.
Shaikh Khalifa conferred the Order of Zayed, the UAE's highest civil decoration, on the Queen. He also bestowed the Order of the Federation on both Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Andrew, Duke of York.
The Queen presented Shaikh Khalifa with the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, GCB.
She also honoured 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 Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, with the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, GCMG.
Visa exemption
Meanwhile, at a ceremony held at the Emirates Palace hotel, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, and William Hague, British Foreign Secretary, signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement along with two other Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on consular matters and on mutual exemption of visas for holders of diplomatic or private passports.
The Queen also unveiled the design of the Zayed National Museum, expected to be completed in 2014, in the presence of Shaikh Mohammad.
The Vice-President later escorted the Queen around an exhibition of the museum's forthcoming programme highlighting Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan's legacy, the UAE's transformation, its history and culture.
The programme represents the five pillars of Shaikh Zayed's legacy: history and society; people and heritage; land and water; faith and Islam; and science and learning.
Thursday was the first time that the design of the museum was made public.
The Queen and Shaikh Mohammad unveiled a commemorative plaque at the event. Prince Philip and Prince Andrew were also in attendance.
Traditional Yola and Ayalla dancers greeted the royal party and a 3,000-strong crowd of guests cheered as they arrived at the the lawns of Emirates Palace.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, later viewed a flyby of UAE and UK jets as part of the royal visit, in the presence of Prince Philip.
The Queen left for Oman on Thursday night.
With inputs from Francis Matthew, Editor-At-Large, and WAM
