Algeria has severed diplomatic ties with the UAE and banned Emirati aircraft from its airspace, citing "provocative and hostile acts". The Algerian defence ministry announced that the airspace ban would take effect on Friday, but commercial flights to Algiers airport will be permitted until 2026. The move follows years of tension between the two countries, including Algeria's opposition to the UAE's interference in North African and Sahelian affairs. The Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has previously referred to the UAE as a "micro-state" seeking to destabilise regional nations.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Algeria has cut diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The decision was made after Algeria claimed that all means to preserve bilateral relations had been exhausted. Algerian state media did not provide details on the reason for the move. This comes after years of tension between the two countries, including Algeria's cancellation of an air services agreement with the UAE in February. Last year, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune described his country's relations with the UAE as "cold" and accused them of meddling in Algeria's internal affairs. The UAE Foreign Ministry did not comment on the decision to sever diplomatic ties. Additionally, Algeria has banned Emirati-registered civilian and military aircraft from its airspace, except for commercial flights to and from Algiers airport, which will be permitted until the end of 2026.
Written for “Algeria UAE Diplomatic Row” on 2026-09-12,
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Leaning score withheld for article 8098: score contradicts its own evidence · logged 2026-09-11
Algeria cut diplomatic ties with the UAE and banned Emirati civilian and military aircraft from its airspace, citing 'provocative and hostile acts'.
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Algeria → cut → acts
Algeria has closed its airspace to Emirati-registered civilian and military aircraft after cutting diplomatic ties with the Gulf country on Thursday following years of tension.
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Algeria → close → tension
In a statement announcing the severing of diplomatic relations, Algiers accused the Gulf nation of "provocative and hostile acts", though the precise catalyst for the sudden rupture remained unclear.
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catalyst → announce → rupture
The Algerian defence ministry announced that an airspace ban targeting Emirati aircraft would take 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.
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which → announce → 2026
On Thursday, Algiers gave the UAE ambassador 48 hours "to comply with the decision" and leave the country.
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Algiers → give → country
The Algerian foreign ministry stated the move came "after exhausting all avenues to preserve bilateral relations" with the UAE, noting it had issued repeated warnings to Abu Dhabi.
"
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it → state → Dhabi
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," the ministry said, adding that the UAE "persisted in its actions, reaching a point where they could no longer be considered acceptable or tolerable".
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they → spar → point
Emirati authorities expressed regret over the move, with the foreign ministry stating that it hoped the decision would prove temporary to maintain "fraternal ties" with Algeria.
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decision → express → Algeria
"Wherever they set foot, blood flows"
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blood → set → foot
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has frequently referred to the UAE as a "micro-state" seeking to destabilise regional nations, explicitly pointing to conflicts in Libya, Mali, and Sudan.
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Tebboune → refer → Libya
In a televised interview in July, Tebboune launched a scathing critique of Abu Dhabi, asserting that "wherever they set foot, blood flows".
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blood → televise → foot
"We want them to stay away, so that blood does not flow in our country," Tebboune added, noting at the time that a diplomatic break "would have happened long ago" had Algiers not sought to avoid "deepening divisions" within the Arab world.
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Algiers → want → world
Tensions between the two countries have been fuelled by several developments in recent years, specifically as Algeria viewed the UAE's interference in North African and Sahelian affairs as contrary to its foreign policy principles and an indirect threat to Algerian security.
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Algeria → fuel → security
Further divisions between Algiers and Abu Dhabi also stemmed from diverging diplomatic policies, including the UAE's normalisation of ties with Israel in 2020.
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divisions → stem → 2020
