The advisories issued by the embassies of the UK and the US to their nationals of a possible terrorist threat in the UAE are routine and are within the right of every country to ensure the safety and security of its citizens. It does not mean that the UAE faces an imminent attack that deserves special precautions.
However, the way the two advisories were publicly announced and the vague wording used to express concerns have created a rather uncomfortable situation and helped no one improve his or her security.
Expatriates from the UK and the US and from everywhere in the world know through first-hand experience that the UAE is one of the safest countries in the world and the security of residents here, regardless of nationality, is given paramount importance.
It would have been better for the UK and the US missions to share intelligence information available to them with the authorities in charge of security in the emirates.
The UAE has reassured residents that there is no credible information about any terrorist threat and the UAE remains a safe place for living.
