Doha Time
 
Dubai, Jun 17: Britain has warned of a high risk of a terror attack in the United Arab Emirates.

“There is a high threat from terrorism. We believe terrorists may be planning to carry out attacks in the UAE,” said a travel advice posted online by the embassy.

“Attacks could be indiscriminate and could happen at any time, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers such as residential compounds, military, oil, transport and aviation interests,” it said.

The warning informed Britons in the UAE that they should “maintain a high level of security awareness, particularly in public places”.

“We believe that threat to be high. It was a general threat before,” a British embassy spokeswoman said. “There are a number of factors that came into consideration. The threat level was raised and the travel advisory was amended to reflect that.”

US missions in the UAE also cautioned their citizens living there about the potential for attacks in the state and throughout the Middle East, as the summer season approaches.

Americans were reminded of “the general security situation” in the region before the “summer travel and holiday season, including plans for 4th of July celebrations around the UAE”, according to a copy of an official US message.

The embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulate in Dubai “wish to advise Americans that potential exists for terrorists to plan and carry out violent actions in the region, including the UAE”, according to the message.

“And for this reason Americans should maintain a high level of personal security awareness at all times, particularly in public places,” according to a copy of the message sent by a State Department official.

The official, who asked not to be named, said that the warden message — e-mailed to Americans registered with the embassy in Abu Dhabi — will be posted on the embassy website today.

It contained no other details and asked Americans to continue to monitor the embassy’s website. 

Dubai, one of the seven emirates forming the UAE federation, attracts huge numbers of British investors who invest in its booming real estate sector.

Tristan Cooper, Moody’s Investors Service’s Middle East sovereign risk analyst, warned that the threat could potentially damage the robust UAE economy.