Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority calling for enhanced co-operation and partnership between the two entities in designing and constructing the Etihad Museum Project along with the new flag hoisting pole standing 123 m tall.

As per the agreement, RTA will help design and construct the Etihad Museum project next to the Union House that saw the signing of the constituent document of the UAE federation back in 1971.

It will also undertake the refurbishment of Al Diyafa Palace and the Union House, construction of a flagpole rising 123 m and a car-park with a capacity to accommodate 200 cars.

RTA will also offer major support to the museum operator in finalising the restaurants and food-processing facilities within the museum and Al Diyafa Palace, and operating the gifts shop.

The agreement was signed by Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention and chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and Mattar Al Tayer, the director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA, in the presence of Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gargawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs and Future and Mohammed Ahmed Al Mur, the chairman of the advisory committee of Etihad Museum.

Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Helal Al Marri, director-general of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing also attended.

RTA said it will also provide access to staff of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority to the site of permanent galleries of the museum as well as their office space in order to start the necessary training from the middle of of August.

It will also provide the assistance needed in regards to all technical matters related to the production of entry cards for the museum (NOL cards) upon the project completion.

The final handover of the project to the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority will be completed by the end of September this year, and every support will be extended for a successful opening ceremony on December 2, it added.-TradeArabia News Service