The United Arab Emirates embassy in London says it has just donated six tonnes of medical material to the UK, enough to manufacture millions of face masks.

The embassy says the equipment arrived at Heathrow on Friday on a special flight from the Gulf and includes material made in the UAE’s own factories.
With the wearing of face masks on public transport soon to become compulsory in England, the donation is timely.

A statement by the UAE embassy in London said the consignment, which arrived on a specially chartered flight, included meltblown fabric for surgical face masks.

The UAE has a close defence and security relationship with Britain but it has faced criticism from human rights groups.