The British Museum could possibly loan around 500 collection objects worth about one billion pounds to the Gulf nation of Abu Dhabi. Works earmarked for the Zayed National Museum for possible loan include an Assyrian relief from Nimrud, the Banquet Scene (645–635BC), which was revalued last year at £100m, according to the Art Newspaper.

A final list of loans and valuations has not been made, although some seleced objects have reportedly been put away in storage. Zayed National Museum is expected to open in 2016 or 2017.

The Art Newspaper reports that a fee reaching into millions of pounds per year could be paid to the British Museum for the loans.