Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry has warned its citizens against travel to Lebanon and urged those present to leave for their own safety, state news agency SPA reported.

The UAE also announced that it was banning its citizens from traveling to Lebanon and reducing its diplomatic mission there, according to state news agency WAM.

Saudi Arabia has issued several previous warnings about security in Lebanon, but this statement comes at a sensitive time in the two countries' diplomatic relationship.

Saudi Arabia said it was suspending aid to the Lebanese army last week in response to Lebanon's failure to condemn attacks by Iranian protesters on Saudi diplomatic missions in January.

"The Foreign and International Cooperation Ministry announced that it had raised its warning situation on traveling to Lebanon to banning travel there ... (It) also decided to reduce the members of its diplomatic mission in Beirut to its furthest extent," the UAE ministry said in a statement said. - Reuters