Queen Elizabeth II takes part in unveiling design of Zayed National Museum

The UAE and UK reaffirmed their deep friendship on Thursday when the two nations' Foreign Ministers signed the Abu Dhabi declaration.

Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and William Hague, signed the declaration as a reaffirmation of the 1971 treaty of friendship, in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke of York.

The Ministers also signed three other documents: on civil nuclear cooperation; consular affairs; and visa affairs. The Visa document will make it easier for Emiratis to travel to the UK, GulfNews reports.

Queen Elizabeth II took part in unveiling the design of the Zayed National Museum on Thursday.

The world-renowned architect Lord Foster famed for his use of steel and glass in his iconic buildings showed the monarch his model for the building as she continued her state visit to the Gulf.

The British Museum is advising on the development of the Zayed National Museum which will feature five "steel feathers", some up to 410ft high, and be built on Saadiyat Island off the Abu Dhabi coast.

The model by the modernist architect's firm, which also created London's 'Gherkin' skyscraper, was far removed from the traditional designs favored by the Queen's son the Prince of Wales, according to The Press Association.