Register your overseas travel and/or residential details here.
There is some risk to personal security and we advise caution.
We reiterate to New Zealanders travelling to the Gulf States and countries of the Arabian peninsula (Yemen, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates) that the risk of terrorism continues.
New Zealanders should take sensible precautions about their personal safety at all times, especially in public places and where Westerners gather.
Because of heightened tensions in the region, attacks against Westerners and Western interests could occur anywhere and at any time. In March 2005, a bomb went off near a theatre frequented by foreigners in Doha, Qatar, resulting in deaths and injuries. In early 2005 Kuwaiti security forces carried out operations against suspected militants in the Kuwait city area resulting in the deaths of security officers and their quarry. In recent years a number of terrorist incidents have occurred in Yemen. Fighting between armed forces and extremists in the Sa’ada region in north Yemen continues. There have been incidents of foreigners being kidnapped in the Shabwa region of southern Yemen.
Al Qaeda, the terrorist organisation, continues to make statements, threatening to carry out attacks in the Gulf region targeting residential compounds, military bases, oil interests and transportation as well as aviation interests.
Before setting out, those intending to sail in the Gulf waters should make enquiries as some areas are highly sensitive, including the islands of Abu Musa and the Tunbs in the southern Gulf. There is a risk of piracy attacks off the Yemen coast, especially in the Gulf of Aden, and small vessels should avoid this area.
We reiterate our advice that all New Zealanders in the Gulf States and Arabian peninsula should have already registered with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
See our regional advice for the Middle East
Other Countries' Travel Advisories
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Contact details are
Postal Address Diplomatic Quarter (PO Box 94 397) Riyadh, 11693, Saudi Arabia
Telephone +966 1 488 7988 Facsimile +966 1 488 7912
Email info@nzembassy.org.sa
Office Hours Sat - Wed 0800 - 1600 hrs
Contact details are
Street Address Suite 1502, 15th Floor, API Tower, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Postal Address PO Box 23-156, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone +971 4 331 7500 Facsimile +971 4 331 7501
Page last updated: Wednesday, 23 April 2008, 10:19 NZST
