The UAE embassy in Washington has urged its citizens to avoid protest locations in the US capital.
The warning came after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed Capitol Hill on Wednesday, forcing a lockdown during a debate to certify November’s presidential election result.
Sharing a tweet by the mayor of Washington, ordering a 12-hour curfew, the embassy called on UAE citizens to “stay away from protest areas in the city, and to abide by the curfew decision starting from 6pm today until 6am”.
تدعو سفارة دولة الإمارات لدى واشنطن جميع المواطنين المتواجدين في واشنطن دي سي بالابتعاد عن مناطق التظاهرات التي تشهدها المدينة، والالتزام بقرار منع التجول بدء من الساعة 6 مساء اليوم حتى الساعة 6 صباح يوم الخميس 7 يناير
— UAE Embassy US (@UAEEmbassyUS) January 6, 2021
في حالة الطوارئ يرجى الاتصال على الرقم (202) 243-2400 https://t.co/F2SA2IDqNM
The embassy also issued a number for people to call in cases of emergency, (202) 243-2400.
Rioters climbed walls of the complex and entered through broken windows, resulting in an armed stand-off as politicians took cover inside. One woman died after being shot during the violence. The debates have since resumed, with Senate members heavily voting down a challenge against Arizona's electoral college votes by 303-121.
Last year, UAE ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba said about 5,000 Emiratis lived in the US at any given time.
The vast majority are students though some are in the US for medical treatment or to accompany sick family members.
"Ninety-nine per cent of them are students or patients. The number of Emiratis who live here on their own outside that is virtually none,” he said.
Other than the embassy in Washington, the UAE has consulates in Los Angeles, New York, Boston and Houston.
