The Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon has signed an agreement marking its official association with the United Arab Emirates Military Museum.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the museum in Grahame Park Way and the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces Museum and Military History Centre.

The memorandum will see the RAF Museum working closely with its UAE partner to support a planned military museum in Abu Dhabi, providing training in areas including collections management and preservation techniques.

Peter Dye, RAF Museum director general, said: “This bilateral arrangement will enable key staff from both museums to exchange expertise and historical information, it will allow for the loan or artefacts, as well as the mounting of joint exhibitions.

“The history of the UK and UAE Armed forces is deeply entwined and it is therefore most appropriate for the two museums to work closely together.”

The new museum will celebrate the history and achievements of the UAE Armed Forces and will include education, research and conservation programmes.