Tunisia · Friday, 11 September 2026
Algeria severs diplomatic ties with UAE, closes airspace to Emirati aircraft
Algeria's foreign ministry announced Thursday it was cutting diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates after "the exhaustion of all means to preserve bilateral relations," accusing Abu Dhabi of "provocative and hostile acts" without giving details. Algiers has long accused the UAE of backing Morocco's claim over Western Sahara and meddling in Libya, Mali and Sudan; Algeria closed its airspace to UAE-registered aircraft from Friday, though commercial flights to Algiers continue under an existing contract through the end of 2026.