Abu Dhabi: The UAE is fully committed to protecting its territory, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, reiterated.

"I send a message to Israel that it cannot expect its criminal acts committed in the UAE will go unpunished," Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan told the Federal National Council (FNC) on Tuesday.

The UAE — a country that respects sovereignty of other countries and the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of others — will not tolerate such a crime happening on its soil, Shaikh Abdullah said of the killing of Mahmoud Al Mabhouh, a top Hamas military leader, in January in a Dubai hotel.

"Countries cannot expect to reap the benefits of their criminal acts committed on UAE soil without being pursued by all legitimate means," Shaikh Abdullah said. "The UAE has got full support of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Arab League and the Arab Summit held in Sirte, Libya, in following these criminals."

The FNC also demanded that Emiratis receive the same treatment offered to citizens of 34 countries, including European Union countries and US citizens, who obtain visas on arrival at UAE ports.

Shaikh Abdullah said the UAE achieved some progress in this regard "but many countries refuse to offer concessions."

Shaikh Abdullah said the UAE has reaped benefits from the preferential treatment offered to citizen of these countries, citing the benefits achieved by tourism, services and real estate sectors.

The Foreign Minister dismissed the assumption that preferential treatment was behind any increase in the crimes committed on UAE soil. "The UAE just allows citizens of these countries to stay for 90 days, but not to work or stay longer."

He said that most of the 34 countries are parties to the Schengen visa and that none of them can enter unilaterally into an agreement with the UAE.

Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, admitted earlier before the FNC that Emiratis faced difficulties when they applied to obtain visas at embassies in the country.

"We signed memorandums of understanding to facilitate issuance of visas to citizens and are coordinating reciprocal treatment with foreign countries in services and facilities offered to missions," Dr Gargash said.

Members of the council have lobbied the British Parliament to grant UAE citizens the right to enter the UK without having to apply for a visa. The lawmakers said they were merely seeking a diplomatic standard of reciprocal treatment among nations.

The members of the house also demanded that assistance offered by the UAE to other countries be linked with political stands of countries and interests of the UAE.

Shaikh Abdullah said the UAE offers grants and soft loans to countries in need of help, regardless of their ties with the UAE. "We extended assistance to Haiti to relieve quake victims, despite the fact that the UAE has no historical ties with it. This is what we have been taught by the late Shaikh Zayed, the founder of this country."

Shaikh Abdullah said the UAE is addressing human trafficking seriously and stressed that the country will not allow the crime to be committed on its territory.