Severance of Diplomatic Relations between Algeria and the United Arab Emirates

The Termination of Diplomatic Relations Between Algeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a diplomatic crisis that began when the Algerian government severed diplomatic ties with the UAE on 10 September 2026, accusing it of engaging in “provocative and hostile acts.” The Algerian authorities declared that all efforts to preserve relations had proven fruitless and gave the UAE’s Ambassador to Algeria 48 hours to leave the country. Algeria also decided to close its airspace to all civil and military aircraft registered in the UAE.

On 10 September 2026, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the termination of diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates. The ministry stated that the decision was taken “after all avenues to preserve bilateral relations had been exhausted” and accused the UAE government of a series of “provocative and hostile acts.” However, the statement did not provide specific details regarding any single incident that directly triggered the decision.

The Algerian government had previously warned the UAE of the potential consequences of its policies. According to the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, despite these efforts, disagreements between the two countries remained unresolved and the UAE’s stance had reached an unacceptable level.

Following the decision, the UAE’s Ambassador to Algeria, Yousef Saif Khamis Subaa Al-Ali, was summoned to the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and formally notified of the termination of diplomatic relations. He was given 48 hours to comply with the decision and depart the country.

Following the termination of diplomatic relations, Algeria imposed restrictions on UAE-registered aircraft. According to a decision announced by the Algerian Ministry of Defense, all civil and military aircraft registered in the UAE are now prohibited from using Algerian airspace. The measure was scheduled to take effect on the Friday following the decision to sever diplomatic ties.

Commercial passenger flights between the UAE and Algeria were temporarily exempted from this restriction. Existing agreements permit commercial flights to Algeria to continue until the end of 2026.

The closure of airspace is one of several steps reflecting the spillover of the diplomatic dispute into the transportation sector. Algeria had already initiated the process to terminate the air services agreement signed between the two countries in May 2013 in February 2026.

Relations between Algeria and the UAE had been strained in the years preceding the severance of diplomatic ties due to disagreements over various regional issues. The two sides have pursued divergent policies on matters including relations with Israel, the Western Sahara issue, and developments in North Africa and the Sahel region.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboun, in several statements without naming the UAE directly, accused a Gulf country of interfering in Algeria’s internal affairs and attempting to destabilize countries in the region. Tebboun asserted that this country had a negative impact on developments in Libya, Mali, and Sudan. The UAE has denied all allegations of interference in regional conflicts.

One of the key differences in foreign policy between Algeria and the UAE concerns relations with Israel. Algeria maintains a policy of opposition to the normalization of relations with Israel, while the UAE established diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords brokered by the United States. Since then, the UAE and Israel have developed economic, diplomatic, and defense ties.

Algeria has not established diplomatic relations with Israel and has maintained a distinct foreign policy stance on the Palestinian issue. The differing approaches of the two countries toward Israel have emerged as one of the principal regional policy divergences in Algeria-UAE relations.

Another major point of contention between the two countries is the Western Sahara issue. The UAE supports Morocco’s claim of sovereignty over Western Sahara, while Algeria backs the Polisario Front, which advocates for an independent Western Sahara. The UAE has also opened a consulate in the disputed territory.

Due to Algeria’s long-standing regional rivalry with Morocco, the UAE’s growing ties with Morocco have become one of the factors contributing to disagreements between Algeria and Abu Dhabi. The different relationships each country has cultivated with various actors in North Africa and the Sahel have further intensified the convergence of their competing regional interests.

Another area where the interests of Algeria and the UAE have clashed is the Sahel and North Africa. In recent years, the UAE has expanded its political and economic ties with various governments in the region, while Algeria’s relations with some of its southern neighbors have become strained following military coups and political upheavals.

The Algerian government has argued that the UAE’s activities in North Africa and the Sahel contradict its own foreign policy approach and pose a threat to national security. These disagreements have been among the key factors contributing to the escalating tensions between the two countries prior to the diplomatic rupture in 2026.

In its response to Algeria’s decision to sever diplomatic relations, the UAE government expressed hope that the move would be temporary. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it values its ties with the Algerian people and emphasized its desire to preserve relations between the two peoples.

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the UAE President, in a statement without naming Algeria directly, asserted that diplomatic relations must be conducted on the basis of “rationality, communication, and transparency of interests.” He emphasized that successful diplomacy depends on open positions and the effective management of disagreements.

The severance of diplomatic relations by Algeria on 10 September and the subsequent closure of its airspace to UAE-registered civil and military aircraft have brought the long-standing political tensions between the two countries to a diplomatic rupture. The exception granted to UAE commercial flights until the end of 2026 has ensured the temporary continuation of existing air transport arrangements.