Algeria formally severed diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. This significant move follows what Algiers described as “provocative and hostile acts.” The Algerian Defense Ministry also announced an immediate closure of its airspace to the UAE.
The airspace restriction will take effect on Friday. However, commercial flights connecting Algiers with the UAE will receive a temporary reprieve. These flights are permitted to continue operating until the end of 2026, allowing for a phased transition.
Relations between the two North African nations have been strained for several years. This tension largely stems from the UAE’s increasing influence across northern and western Africa.
The Algerian Foreign Ministry stated that the decision came “after exhausting all avenues to preserve bilateral relations.” It further added that the UAE had “persisted in its actions,” reaching an unacceptable level. Algiers also gave the Emirati ambassador 48 hours to comply with the directive.
By contrast, the Emirati Foreign Ministry expressed hope for a temporary resolution. Its statement affirmed the UAE’s appreciation for the Algerian people. It also highlighted the “fraternal ties” uniting the two nations, especially through Algerian expatriates and visitors.
Following the announcement, Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic advisor to UAE leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, posted on X. He suggested that diplomatic relations should prioritize “rationality, communication and clarity of interests.” Gargash did not explicitly mention Algeria in his remarks.
Algeria has previously accused Abu Dhabi of working to destabilize countries across northern Africa and the Sahel. These nations include Libya, Mali, and Sudan. The UAE has been implicated in supporting the RSF paramilitary in Sudan’s civil war, a charge it denies. Moreover, Abu Dhabi supports former warlord Khalifa Haftar’s administration in eastern Libya, which rivals the UN-recognized government in Tripoli.
In July, Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune directly criticized the UAE’s regional influence. He stated, “wherever they set foot, blood flows.” Tebboune added, “We want them to stay away, so that blood does not flow in our country.”
This is not Algeria’s first diplomatic rupture in recent years. In 2021, Algeria severed diplomatic ties with neighboring Morocco. That decision was based on accusations that Rabat supported Amazigh separatists and ongoing tensions over the Western Sahara territory.
