Khalifa rejects threat of terrorism in UAE

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has rejected recent warnings by foreign governments about the threat of terrorist attacks in the United Arab Emirates.

Sheikh Khalifa said the warnings issued by the UK and US less than two weeks ago were "part of custom followed by them in dealing with any piece of information or rumour that reach them", quoted UAE daily the National on Saturday, citing an interview with Lebanese newspaper Al-Nahar.

The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on June 14 upgraded its UAE terrorism threat level from "general" to "high", but said it was not advising people to change their travel plans.

"We believe terrorists may be planning to carry out attacks in the UAE," the FCO said on its website.

The warning was followed just days later by the US, which urged its citizens in the UAE to "maintain a high level of personal security awareness at all times, particularly in public places".

Sheikh Khalifa said the UAE enjoyed "a level of security and stability, which is the envy of other countries", the National reported.

"This security is not only achieved by the security measures and precautions that we take, but also by providing means of decent living and earning in an atmosphere of respect to all who live here.

"Thus, our environment rejects all those who try to undermine its security and stability."

The FCO said the "vast majority" of visits to the UAE were "trouble-free".

The FCO said there was a "general" threat of terrorism in the other five Gulf states, except Saudi Arabia which also has a "high" terrorism threat level.

Excluding Saudi Arabia, terrorist attacks in the Gulf are rare. According to the FCO, the only incident of note was a suicide-bomb attack on March 19, 2005 outside the Doha Players’ Theatre in Qatar. One British national was killed and at least 12 other people were injured. 

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