Algeria has closed its airspace to Emirati-registered civilian and military aircraft, a day after severing diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates. The airspace ban, announced by the Algerian defence ministry, took effect on Friday, with an exception for commercial flights to and from Algiers airport, which will be permitted to operate until the end of 2026.
The decision to cut diplomatic ties with the Gulf country on Thursday followed years of mounting tension. In a statement confirming the rupture, Algiers accused the UAE of engaging in "provocative and hostile acts," though the specific trigger for the sudden break was not immediately clear.
On Thursday, the Algerian government gave the UAE ambassador 48 hours to comply with the decision and depart the country. The Algerian foreign ministry stated that this drastic step was taken "after exhausting all avenues to preserve bilateral relations" with the UAE, noting that it had issued repeated warnings to Abu Dhabi.
The ministry further elaborated that "Algeria spared no effort to draw the Emirati side's attention to, and to warn it against, the dire consequences that could result from its regrettable and unjustified conduct." It added that the UAE "persisted in its actions, reaching a point where they could no longer be considered acceptable or tolerable."
In response, Emirati authorities expressed regret over Algeria's move. The Emirati foreign ministry stated its hope that the decision would prove temporary, aiming to maintain "fraternal ties" with Algeria.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has frequently voiced strong criticism of the UAE, referring to it as a "micro-state" actively seeking to destabilise regional nations. He has specifically cited conflicts in Libya, Mali, and Sudan as examples of this alleged interference.
In a televised interview in July, President Tebboune delivered a scathing critique of Abu Dhabi, asserting that "wherever they set foot, blood flows." He added, "We want them to stay away, so that blood does not flow in our country." At the time, Tebboune also noted that a diplomatic break "would have happened long ago" if Algiers had not sought to avoid "deepening divisions" within the Arab world.
Tensions between the two countries have been exacerbated in recent years by several developments, particularly Algeria's view of the UAE's interference in North African and Sahelian affairs. Algiers considered these actions contrary to its foreign policy principles and an indirect threat to Algerian security. Further divisions also stemmed from diverging diplomatic policies, including the UAE's normalisation of ties with Israel in 2020.
