Concerns over Israeli access to BlackBerry data, and the use of the device by the United States to spy on the United Arab Emirates are behind the Gulf state’s moves to curb the smartphone, Dubai’s police chief said.

Worries about spying by the U.S. and Israel spurred plans to sharply limit BlackBerry services in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai’s police chief said in comments that suggest a tough line in talks with the smart phone maker.

The Emirates’ telecoms regulator said Monday that travelers to the city-state of Dubai and the important oil industry center of Abu Dhabi will – like the 500,000 local subscribers – have to do without BlackBerry e-mail, messaging and Web services starting Oct. 11, even when they carry phones issued in other countries.