Report: UAE Issues New Travel Advisory to Lebanon

The United Arab Emirates reiterated warnings to its citizens not to travel to Lebanon over security fears, media reports said on Thursday.

According to al-Akhbar newspaper, UAE called on citizens who wish to head to Lebanon to fill an application that confirms that their visit to Beirut is on their own responsibility.

The Gulf state has issued several travel advisory warnings to Lebanon recently over fears that the turmoil in the neighboring country Syria could spill into it.

Lebanon has lately witnessed a fragile security situation and an increase in kidnap-for-ransom phenomena.

Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar have also issued several travel warnings over the past year.

On Tuesday, the Gulf Cooperation Council expressed “great concern” over the government's failure to abide by the Baabda Declaration.

The Baabda Declaration was sponsored by President Michel Suleiman and calls for different parties to adhere to the disassociation policy to avoid the spread of the unrest in Syria to Lebanese territories.

Lebanese parties are sharply divided over the crisis in Syria as the March 8 alliance continuously expresses its support to Syrian president Bashar Assad, while the March 14 camp backs the popular revolt.

The international community and analysts have expressed fears that the conflict in Syria may spill over into Lebanon.