Kenya is among 13 countries that have been slapped with a visa ban by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

A document released by a state-owned business park said applications for new employment and visit visas were suspended indefinitely for nationals of the 13 countries.

The document cited an immigration circular that came into force on November 18 amid reports that the move was occasioned by security concerns by UAE.

Other states banned alongside Kenya include Somalia, Algeria, Libya, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Tunisia, Yemen and Turkey.

This comes days after the French Embassy in the UAE warned its nationals to remain vigilant following a bomb attack in Saudi Arabia targeting diplomats which Islamic State claimed responsibility for.

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The visa ban targeting Kenya and the other states comes two months after UAE started formal relations with Israel in a move criticized by some Muslim countries.