US to close missions in UAE as 'precautionary step'

The US embassy in Abu Dhabi has said its office and the consulate general in Dubai will be closed Aug 4 as a "precautionary step" based on security concerns and instructions of the US State Department.

The embassy and the general consulate to the UAE will be shut down coming Sunday along with US diplomatic and administrative missions in a number of other countries including Jordan, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel for security concerns, Xinhua reported citing an embassy statement.

The US embassy in Abu Dhabi said it was possible "we may have additional days of closings as well, depending on our analysis".

The emergency message said the closure was a routine action, as the US State Department "when conditions warrant, takes steps like this to balance our continued operations with security and safety".