The South Korean Army held a send-off ceremony Tuesday for 128 elite troops set to leave for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to replace a military contingent tasked with training the Middle East country's special forces, officers said.

The South Korean unit "Akh," meaning brother in Arabic, has been based in the eastern region of Al Ain in the UAE since 2011, after a South Korean consortium won a US$20 billion deal in late 2009 to build nuclear reactors in the oil-rich country.

The unit, whose members include Army officers in charge of special operations and anti-terrorism missions as well as Navy elite commandos, will train the UAE's special forces, stage joint drills, and protect South Korean nationals living there in case of emergency for eight months, according to the Army.

The replacement of the unit, the ninth of its kind, will take place next week, according to the Army headquarters.

During the ceremony, Lt. Gen. Jeon In-beom asked the soldiers to "help increase the national status by carrying out your duties faithfully while bearing in mind its key mission as the country's military diplomat." (Yonhap)