The ministry urged citizens to coordinate with the Embassy regarding any security concerns.
Published: Mon 9 Dec 2019, 6:49 AM
Last updated: Mon 9 Dec 2019, 6:10 PM
Tourists must avoid wearing expensive items that could attract attention in public places while travelling outside the UAE, frequent travellers have warned. This came as the UAE advised its citizens to exercise caution while travelling to the UK after an Omani student was stabbed to death for his expensive watch in London.
On Saturday, the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation warned of a recent increase in violence, including a number of attacks on people of Arab Gulf states. "We advise our citizens to take special care, especially at night, and avoid wearing valuable items that attract attention in public places," the ministry said in a statement.
It also urged citizens in London to coordinate with the embassy regarding any security concerns.
Frequent travellers have seconded the warning. Emirati Fahed Ali said: "The UAE government is always cautious about its citizens' safety everywhere. Travellers should not show their expensive items and pieces while they are travelling to any country, not just the UK."
Indian expat Reshma Menon who travels to the UK on a regular basis to visit her sister in Basingstoke said she was in the UK when the incident took place. "My sister lives in the Basingstoke. I had just landed in the UK when the stabbings happened.
"That evening, we were supposed to go to London to see the Christmas market. However, we went to Bath instead. We avoided London because of the incident.
"My sister asks me to be cautious when we travel to Central London because we've been mugged once. We are aware of our belongings, especially when we are in crowded places."
Another expat Jim George said: "Obviously, all residents should take caution while travelling outside of the UAE, and try to avoid wearing anything expensive. What happened in the UK is sad and depressing."
What happened to the student?
On Friday, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Araimi, 26, was fatally stabbed near Harrods - a world famous luxury department store in Knightsbridge - around midnight. He was the latest victim in London's grisly knife crime series that claimed two other lives in less than a day.
The police said they have launched an investigation, but no arrests have been made.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com
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