Algeria cuts diplomatic ties with UAE

Closes airspace for UAE-registered civilian and military aircraft

ALGIERS:

Algeria closed its airspace to all UAE-registered civilian and military aircraft from Friday, a day after it abruptly severed diplomatic relations with the Gulf nation, accusing Abu Dhabi of a series of "provocative or hostile" actions, Ennahar TV reported, citing the Algerian defence ministry.

Algeria did not specify the reasons behind the decision. However, its defence ministry said the UAE commercial flights to and from Algiers will be exempt from the ban until the end of 2026, when the current contract expired.

Earlier, the Algerian foreign ministry said it had summoned the UAE ambassador, informed him of the decision and given him 48 hours to comply. It said the UAE's actions had reached a point where they could no longer be considered acceptable or tolerable.

The foreign ministry said that Algeria had "exhausted all means of preserving bilateral relations". The UAE, however, expressed the hoped Algeria's decision would be temporary, while stressing its commitment to maintaining ties between the two peoples and preserving their shared interests.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirms the UAE's appreciation for the brotherly Algerian people and its pride in the bonds that unite the two peoples," the Emirati foreign ministry said, referring in particular to the Algerian community living in the UAE and Algerian visitors.

Relations between the two countries have deteriorated in recent years, with Algerian media outlets sharply criticising the UAE and accusing it of seeking to sow regional discord. The two countries have taken opposing positions on several regional issues.

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said on X that diplomatic relations should be based on "rationality, communication and clarity of interests", rather than "riddles and signals that require decoding".

Gargash did not explicitly mention Algeria or link his comments to the diplomatic rupture. He said successful diplomacy depended on clear positions and effective management of interests and disagreements