Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have broken up an Al-Qaeda cell comprising seven Arabs who were plotting attacks in the Gulf state, an official statement said on Thursday.

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have broken up an Al-Qaeda cell comprising seven Arabs who were plotting attacks in the Gulf state, an official statement said on Thursday.

The UAE is one of the most stable countries in the Middle East and has so far not seen any attacks by Al-Qaeda. It has also been spared in the wave of “Arab Spring” uprisings.

The cell was "plotting acts that would have harmed the security of the country, its citizens and foreign residents," said the statement carried by state news agency WAM.

The group was also involved in "recruiting people" for Al-Qaeda and providing the jihadist organization with "money and logistic support".

It was also "trying to extend its activities to reach some other countries in the region," the statement said, without elaborating.

The seven are of "Arab nationalities," and will be questioned and put on trial, it said.