The police chief of Dubai on Monday alleged that the UAE had "credible information" about Iranian-backed "clandestine terrorist cells" in the Gulf.

In strongly-worded statements, Dhahi Khalfan Tamim said that the Arab Gulf countries would "not keep silent" when it came to alleged Iranian threats, noting that he had informed Iranian officials regarding his country's stance.

Speaking to the pan-Arab Al-Arabiya television channel, Tamim said that UAE authorities had uncovered a "terrorist cell" in 1985 that had been "planning to carry out attacks inside the emirates."

"We didn't announce it at the time since we saw the plot as a rogue operation by a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards without the knowledge of the higher leadership," he added.

Tamim went on to warn that the UAE would activate "clandestine squads" inside Iran in the event that the Islamic Republic attempted to activate its own undercover agents inside the Gulf with the aim of carrying out operations there. "We won't sit still while others attack us," he asserted.

Tamim also pointed to "secret hands" that threatened the security of the Arab Gulf states, claiming that these had played a role in promoting domestic instability. According to Tamim, these elements are trying to promote the notion of revolution among the region's youth.

Notably, several foreign NGOs have contacts with Gulf-based youth groups. Critics say these NGOs – which are being closely monitored – encourage young people to instigate disorder and dissent inside their respective societies.  

"Some of these NGOs have committed numerous violations," said Tamim. "We know how deal with them; we have recently arrested several people in the UAE on charges of threatening domestic security."

UAE-Egypt relations

The Dubai police chief, who has recently issued several strongly-worded statements against Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, tried to explain that his comments should not be viewed as targeting Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi.

Tamim noted that Morsi had recently resigned from his position as head of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party.

"The Muslim Brotherhood's influence in Egypt is limited," he said. "The group only enjoys the support of about 10 per cent of the Egyptian public, so it will never harm the ties between the two Arab countries."

"My recent statements were directed at the actions of the Muslim Brotherhood as a political group," he added. "I don't hide my suspicions about the group, but I don't criticise heads of state either. I issue statements on Twitter as a private citizen, not as Dubai police chief."

That said, Tamim could not hide his Islamophobia when discussing the issue of Syria. He voiced support for the Syrian people, stressing that he was "very concerned" about what was happening in the troubled country.

He went on to express fear, however, that Syria's Muslim Brotherhood would end up replacing the current regime in Damascus. This, he opined, would be "catastrophic" and would adversely impact regional security.    

According to Tamim, the leaders of Syria's Muslim Brotherhood were currently sitting in luxurious hotels in Turkey waiting to replace Syria's embattled president, Bashar Al-Assad.