On 28 October 2020, the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, in conjunction with the U.S. Consulate in Dubai, issued a U.S. Citizen Alert, which reads in part as follows: “The U.S. Mission wishes to remind U.S. citizens in the United Arab Emirates of the need to maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to keep up their security awareness, even though local law enforcement units have effectively demonstrated the capacity to detect, deter, and prevent acts of terrorism in the UAE.
“The Department of State remains concerned about the global threat of terrorism, including the possibility of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and interests in the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula. Terrorist organizations continue to plan attacks against Western targets; these attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics, including suicide operations, assassination, kidnapping, hijacking, and bombing.
“U.S. citizens should maintain a low profile, be aware of surroundings, and stay alert in locations frequented by tourists.”
