One expert says that the UAE might be anxious about Iran's relationship with Oman  [EPA]

Oman claims to have uncovered a United Arab Emirates (UAE) spy network in the Gulf Arab state that targeted its government and military.

The UAE have denied having links to any such network while a regional security analyst on Sunday said that he found the allegations puzzling.

"This is all very murky," Theodore Karasik, director of research and development at the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, said.

"One possibility is that the UAE wants to know more about Iran-Oman relations because of Tehran and Muscat's long ties in security and military cooperation."

Oman's state news agency reported that its "security services uncovered a spying network belonging to the state security apparatus of the United Arab Emirates, targeting ... Oman and the way its government and military work".

It gave few details but an Omani government official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said a number of Omani nationals had been arrested, including some who worked for the government.

The Omani official said the arrests dated back about two months, but gave no other details.

Oman's news agency ONA said the suspects would be sent to court.

The UAE foreign ministry, in a statement carried by the state news agency WAM, said "the UAE expresses its full willingness to cooperate with ... Oman in any investigations that it carries out in full transparency to uncover (those) who try to mar the relations between the two countries."

Oman maintains good relations with Iran and was instrumental in helping to negotiate the release of one of three US hikers accused by Tehran of straying from Iraq into Iranian territory.