Dubai: The United Arab Emirates said on Thursday that it has not taken any administrative or legal measures to remove Qataris from the country since its decision to cut ties with Doha.

“Since the issuance of its statement on 5 June 2017, in which the UAE has taken a number of measures towards the State of Qatar for reasons related to the protection of national security, the UAE specified that Qatari nationals outside the country must obtain a prior permit to enter the country,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement published by the state news agency, WAM.

The ministry stressed that Qataris who are already resident in the UAE will not need to obtain such a permit in order to continue their stay in the country.

The statement came as a response to what the UAE says were false allegations made by Qatar.

The statement read: “The UAE regrets that Qatar continues to falsify accuse the UAE’s polices. The UAE affirms its full respect and appreciation to the Qatari people.”

The UAE affirmed that it will continues to maintain the measures it has taken against Qatar to address its threats to regional safety and to the people of the UAE.

The statement called on Qatar to respect its international obligations and to cease supporting and sponsoring terrorist organizations and to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of neighbouring countries.

The UAE is defending a lawsuit brought by Doha over the boycott imposed last June by the Anti-Terror Quartet (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt), severing diplomatic ties and transport links. Qatar claims the UAE has forcibly separated families, in violation of an international treaty signed by both countries.