Two Leisure Industry shows taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates have been postponed due to the Middle East situation.

Soccerex 2003, originally taking place at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel on 23-24 March to coincide with the FIFA Youth World Championships, has been rescheduled following FIFA's postponement of the championship.

Soccerex issued a statement saying: 'Whilst extremely unfortunate and despite the safe environs of Dubai and the UAE, irrespective of war in Iraq, the general perception and climate is such as to render the event devalued should we hold it on the prescribed dates.'

The show is to be rescheduled for the autumn, though a date has not yet been set.

The Theme Parks & Fun Centres Show 2003 (TPFC 2003) has also been postponed.

It has been pushed back from 12-14 April to 29 September to 1 October 2003, but will still be held at the Airport Expo Dubai.

Meanwhile, with the Middle East situation getting closer to war, the British Foreign Office has today recommended all British nationals leave Kuwait and has advised against travel there.

The government believes the country may be at risk of attack from Iraq should hostilities break out.

The Foreign Office has also advised against all travel to Israel and the Occupied Territories and is urging British nationals in Israel to leave as soon as possible.

British nationals in West Bank and Gaza are advised to leave immediately.

A statement from 10 Downing Street also said travel advice for the United Arab Emirates has been 'revised to alert British nationals to the increased threat of terrorism. The threat is now said to be 'high'.'

Details: www.soccerex.com and www.themeparksdubai.com