UAE Renews Travel Warning to Lebanon

The United Arab Emirates on Friday reiterated its call on its citizens not to travel to Lebanon over the deteriorating security situation in the country.

A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry also asked UAE nationals currently in Lebanon to leave the country immediately and coordinate with the country's embassy to facilitate their travel.

The statement urged UAE citizens to abide by the travel warning pending another decision from the Foreign Ministry.

It urged them to take precautions while traveling abroad and read travel advices on the ministry's website.

The UAE first advised its citizens to avoid travel to Lebanon in May 2012.

Tourists from Gulf states formed the bulk of the wealthy visitors to Lebanon, whose vital tourism industry has been hit hard by unrest in neighboring Syria.

Most GCC states began urging their nationals to avoid traveling to Lebanon when sectarian clashes linked to Syria's war began shaking the country.

The security situation became worse after assassinations and bombings began targeting Sunni and Shiite areas.

The latest attacks were a deadly bombing in the Haret Hreik district of Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hizbullah stronghold, and a car bomb blast that killed former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah, a Sunni politician.