(TAP) – Information on the possibility of an attack in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are behind the measure taken by the Emirates airline against female Tunisian passengers, Spokesperson for the Presidency of the Republic Saida Garrach announced on Monday.

“The UAE voiced fear that an attack will probably be committed by Tunisian women or women with Tunisian passports,” Garrach told Shems FM radio on Monday.

“Emirati authorities have serious security information on the possibility of terrorist attacks,” she said stressing that these information regards the return of terrorists mainly from Syria and Iraq.

Garrach further expressed understanding of Emirati authorities’ decision in so far as it aims to protect their citizens and territories yet the way Tunisian passengers were treated is “unacceptable”.

“What is happening between Tunisia and the UAE cannot be described as a diplomatic crisis,” she affirmed.

Emirates airlines had banned on December 22 Tunisian women from travelling to Dubai onboard of its plane.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation under the Ministry of Transport has intervened with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority to demand the final lifting of this measure that was imposed on all Tunisian women even those accompanied by their husbands or transiting through Dubai.

Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Tunis Salem Issa Elkattam Zeabi was received on Friday evening at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he was asked to "provide clarification" on this measure.

The UAE diplomat said that the measure was "temporary and relating to security arrangements.”

He was also received by Prime Minister Youssef Chahed on the same day.