ABU DHABI: UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan downplayed warnings issued by the British and US embassies to their citizens in the UAE to be on their guard against terrorist attacks.
“We respect the right of each state to take precautions to protect its citizens,” Sheikh Khalifa said in an interview published in local newspapers yesterday.
“But we think that the (warnings) were no more than the normal practice followed by embassies in dealing with any piece of information or rumor they receive, no matter how true it may be,” he added.
“We enjoy a level of security and stability envied by other countries,” said Sheikh Khalifa.
“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 in the country. Thus, our environment rejects all those who try to undermine its security and stability,” he said.
On June 16 the British Embassy issued a warning to Britons, who make up the largest Western community in the UAE saying there was a “high threat from terrorism.” Washington followed suit with a warning about the potential for attacks in the UAE and throughout the Middle East.
Unlike some other countries in the Gulf, the UAE has never been a target of attacks that have generally been blamed on Al-Qaeda.
