Algeria announces it is severing diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and closing its airspace to Emirati civilian and military aircraft. Algerian state media and officials say the move follows what they describe as “provocative and hostile” actions by Abu Dhabi and after Algeria exhausts all available efforts to preserve bilateral ties.
Several outlets report that Algeria also summons the UAE ambassador and gives a compliance deadline, while providing limited exceptions for commercial flights to Algiers. Deutsche Welle and others add that Algeria frames the decision as linked to broader regional concerns, accusing the UAE of destabilizing countries in North and West Africa, including Libya, Sudan and Mali. France 24 similarly reports that Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has previously criticized the UAE’s involvement in Algeria’s internal affairs.
Other coverage emphasizes the longer backdrop of deteriorating relations, citing disagreements across regional files: Western Sahara, positions toward Israel, and shifting influence in the Sahel. While all sources describe Algeria’s stated rationale in similar terms, they vary on the details—such as the airspace restrictions’ timing and how flight access is handled—without challenging Algeria’s core allegations or decision.
