SECURITY at Australian embassies in the Middle East is being closely examined and travel warnings are under review over concerns of an al-Qaeda attack in the region.

Fears of a terror strike have already prompted Britain and the United States to close embassies and withdraw some staff after an international travel warning.

US President Barack Obama has ordered “all appropriate steps” be taken to protect Americans in response to an al-Qaeda threat, a White House official said.

“The president is being updated on a potential threat occurring in or emanating from the Arabian Peninsula,” the official said.

A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr said Australia had no embassies in the regions where the US and UK had temporarily closed theirs.

A close eye will be kept on other embassies in the Middle East, including in Baghdad and Saudi Arabia.

“We’re reviewing their security but don’t have any plans to close them at this stage,” the spokesman said.

“What we will do is review all our travel warnings for Australians in those areas and adjust them ... if necessary.”

So far there has been no change to travel advisories for Australians in the Middle East, which remain at high alert for most regions there.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs said it received advice from the US and Britain yesterday about the threat of an al-Qaeda attack.

“We’re in close communication with the US and the UK in relation to the information that led them to make (embassy) closures. The Australian Government is aware of that information,” the spokesman said.

Britain has announced several of its embassy staff have been withdrawn from the Yemeni capital Sanaa over security fears and the embassy will be closed on Sunday and Monday.

“We have withdrawn a number of staff from Sanaa, due to increased security concerns,” a spokesman for the Foreign Office in London said.

“We are particularly concerned about the security situation in the final days of Ramadan and into Eid.’’

It follows the worldwide alert issued by the US on Friday warning of plans by al-Qaeda to launch an attack in the Middle East or North Africa in August.

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan ends next week with the feast of Eid ul-Fitr.

The US State Department announced on Thursday that at least 22 US embassies would close on Sunday as a precaution.

The State Department said attacks were possible ''particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, and possibly occurring in or emanating from the Arabian Peninsula.''

The Foreign Office advises British nationals against all travel to Yemen, and strongly advises any remaining Britons to leave the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country.

''Our travel advice advises particular vigilance during Ramadan, when tensions could be heightened,’’ a ministry spokesman said.

On its website, the Foreign Office warns of a “high threat from terrorism throughout Yemen’’, and says British nationals face “a very high threat of kidnap from armed tribes, criminals and terrorists’’.

There are no current plans to close other British embassies this weekend, a Foreign Office spokesman told AFP.

The US State Department alert warned of “the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure”.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said on Thursday the US would close a number of embassies and consulates on Sunday, a work day in much of the Islamic world.

She said some embassies or consulates could decide to remain closed beyond Sunday.

The Arabian Peninsula is the historic base of al-Qaeda, founded by Saudi-born extremist Osama bin Laden, killed in a US strike in Pakistan in 2011.

The US has been especially cautious about security since an attack on its consulate in Benghazi, Libya on September 11 last year.

The assault by Islamic extremists killed four Americans, including ambassador Chris Stevens.

Sunday is a workday in the Muslim world. American diplomatic missions in Europe, Latin America and many other places are closed on Sunday.

CURRENT AUSTRALIAN TRAVEL ADVICE FOR THE MIDDLE EAST

Bahrain — Reconsider your need to travel

Iran — Reconsider your need to travel

Iraq — Do not travel

Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank — Exercise a high degree of caution

Jordan — Exercise a high degree of caution

Kuwait — Exercise a high degree of caution

Lebanon — Reconsider your need to travel

Oman — Exercise normal safety precautions

Qatar — Exercise a high degree of caution

Saudi Arabia — Reconsider your need to travel

Syria — Do not travel

United Arab Emirates — Exercise a high degree of caution

Yemen — Do not travel

Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade