Stories
Algeria Severs Ties with UAE Amidst Regional Rivalries and Accusations
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CNBC TV18•26-09-2026, 11:39
Algeria Severs Ties with UAE Amidst Regional Rivalries and Accusations
- •Algeria severed diplomatic relations with the UAE on September 10, citing "provocative and hostile acts" and accusing Abu Dhabi of destabilizing North Africa and the Sahel region.
- •Algiers ordered the UAE ambassador to leave within 48 hours and closed its airspace to all UAE-registered civilian and military aircraft, with commercial flights to and from Algiers exempt until the end of 2026.
- •A key trigger for the escalation was Algeria's accusation that the UAE meddled in its domestic stability, interfered politically, and supported Morocco's sovereignty claims over Western Sahara, a red line for Algiers.
- •Algeria also expressed strong opposition to Arab countries normalizing ties with Israel, arguing it undermines the Palestinian cause, a stance that clashes with the UAE's Abraham Accords involvement.
- •Despite previous high-level exchanges and economic agreements, tensions escalated, potentially exacerbated by Algeria's failed BRICS membership bid and the shifting political landscape in Mali, where both Algeria and the UAE have competing interests.
Key Questions Answered
Algeria severed diplomatic ties with the UAE on September 10, citing provocative and hostile acts by Abu Dhabi. Algiers accused the UAE of domestic political interference, media friction, and destabilizing North Africa and the Sahel region.
Algeria closed its airspace to all UAE-registered civilian and military aircraft. However, commercial flights strictly operating to and from Algiers remain exempt from this restriction until the end of 2026.
The UAE supports Morocco's sovereignty claims over Western Sahara and opened a consulate in Laayoune in 2020. This stance directly opposes Algiers, which backs the pro-independence Polisario Front and views the Rabat-Abu Dhabi alignment as a severe threat.
