Algeria Cuts Diplomatic Ties with UAE Amid Rising Regional Tensions

Algeria has severed diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates, accusing Abu Dhabi of engaging in a series of “provocative or hostile” actions and saying that all efforts to preserve bilateral ties had been exhausted.

The Algerian Foreign Ministry announced the decision on Thursday, September 10, saying the UAE ambassador had been summoned, formally informed of the decision and given 48 hours to leave the country.

Algeria also ordered the closure of its airspace to all UAE-registered civilian and military aircraft from Friday. However, existing commercial flights to and from Algiers have been granted a temporary exemption until the end of 2026.

The ministry, in a statement carried by state media, said Algeria had exercised “great restraint” and repeatedly warned the UAE about the consequences of its conduct. It said the situation had reached a point that could no longer be tolerated between two sovereign states.

The statement did not specify the incidents that prompted the diplomatic break.

The UAE Foreign Ministry expressed hope that the decision would be temporary and reaffirmed its commitment to relations between the two peoples and their shared interests.

UAE presidential diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash said on social media that successful diplomacy required “rationality, communication and clarity of interests” rather than “riddles and signals that require decoding.”

Relations between Algeria and the UAE have deteriorated over several years, with major differences emerging over regional and geopolitical issues.

One key point of friction is Western Sahara. The UAE supports Morocco’s claim to sovereignty over the disputed territory, while Algeria backs the Polisario Front’s demand for independence.

Algeria has also opposed the UAE’s normalization of relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords and has raised concerns over Emirati involvement in Libya, Mali, Niger and other parts of the Sahel.

Algerian officials have previously accused the UAE of interfering in Algeria’s internal affairs, including alleged support for separatist groups.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has also made critical remarks about the UAE’s perceived role in regional instability.

The latest move follows earlier tensions, including steps taken this year toward terminating a 2013 air services agreement between the two countries.

The diplomatic rupture represents a major escalation in relations between the North African and Gulf states and could have wider implications for regional diplomacy, air travel and security cooperation.