BlackBerry maker Research in Motion vowed Monday not to compromise customer security after two Gulf governments threatened to block key services.

Facing partial bans in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, the Canadian-based firm told customers that "it will not compromise the integrity and security of the BlackBerry."

The UAE and Saudi governments were poised to ban key BlackBerry messenger, email and web browsing functions, citing concerns they could be used for illegal activities.

In a statement, RIM admitted it discusses security issues with "certain governments" but said it "respects both the regulatory requirements of government and the security and privacy needs of corporations and consumers."

BlackBerry has more than 700,000 subscribers in Saudi Arabia and 500,000 in the UAE, a country that has established itself as a major business hub mainly in the bustling emirate of Dubai.

RIM tried to assure business customers that closely guarded company secrets transmitted by email or messenger would not be at risk.

"BlackBerry security architecture was specifically designed to provide corporate customers with the ability to transmit information wirelessly while also providing them with the necessary confidence that no one, including RIM, could access their data."

The UAE's decision comes as media watchdog Reporters without Borders accused it of "harassing and arresting users of BlackBerry Messenger who allegedly tried to organize a protest" against an increase in petrol prices.

"We call for an end to this government witch-hunt against BlackBerry Messenger users who tried to get their fellow citizens to join them in a protest," it said on Thursday, claiming that one of the organizers, Badr Ali al-Dhohori, 18, has been in custody in Abu Dhabi since July 15.

The United States criticized the decision by the UAE and asked the authorities to clarify the reasons behind it.

"It's about what we think is an important element of democracy, human rights, and freedom of information and the flow of information in the 21st century," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said.

"It's an argument that we make to countries like Iran and China. And it's also an argument that we make to friends and allies of ours like the UAE," Crowley said, calling it a "dangerous precedent."

Yousef Al-Otaiba, the UAE ambassador to Washington, issued a sharp e-mail response to the news media.

"The State Department’s comments today on the UAE’s announcement to suspend certain Blackberry services from October 11 are disappointing and contradict the US government’s own approach to telecommunications regulation," he said.

"In fact, the UAE is asking for exactly the same regulatory compliance -- and with the same principles of judicial and regulatory oversight -- that Blackberry grants the US and other governments and nothing more."

RIM's problems in the Gulf multiplied on Monday as Saudi Arabian plans emerged to suspend the use of BlackBerries and the UAE extended its threat to include roaming on BlackBerry messenger, email and web browsing services.

"We have received a memorandum from the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) to suspend some BlackBerry services in August," an executive at one of the three Saudi telecoms companies told AFP, asking that his company not be identified.

CITC "has ordered local operators to freeze the messenger function for BlackBerry users this month," the Saudi Gazette said.

The three providers -- Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Mobily and Zain -- made it clear that the ban does not apply to e-mail service, the daily said.

In Riyadh, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority said: "Roaming on messenger, email and web browsing will be suspended on October 11."

Roaming is a function whereby mobile telephone subscribers can access domestic services while traveling abroad.

In July 2009, RIM charged that an update issued by UAE's largest telecoms provider, Etisalat, was actually spyware, and that it enabled unauthorized access to information stored on users' smartphones.

In India, the handset sparked a similar controversy after the Indian government warned it would close down RIM's operations in the world's fastest growing mobile market after China if it could not monitor emails and text messages because of security concerns.

RIM gave an assurance that it would soon address concerns on the "issue of monitoring the BlackBerry," an Indian official said last week.