UAE Ministry Issues Lebanon Travel Warning

Emirati citizens have been warned not to travel to Lebanon “for their own safety” due to the current situation in Syria spilling over the border, official news agency WAM has reported.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ advice against travelling to the country, which is popular with wealthy Arabs vacationing in the Middle East, echoes an identical warning it made in December last year.

The advice comes after hundreds of Syrians in the Lebanese city of Sidon held a demonstration on Sunday in support of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

“If necessary, holders of diplomatic and special passports planning to travel to Lebanon should obtain prior permits from the Ministry and should coordinate with it before departure by calling the Ministry on 02-4449600,” a statement from the Ministry said.

Holders of normal passports will be required to sign a pledge at the airport to take full responsibility when they travel to Lebanon.

Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, the ministry undersecretary, said the travel advice was issued out of the ministry’s keenness to maintain the safety of citizens.

He advised citizens to heed the latest travel advice and to take utmost caution when going abroad.