Algiers, Sept. 11 – Algeria has severed diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates after citing provocative and hostile actions and exhausting efforts to preserve bilateral ties. The Foreign Ministry summoned the UAE ambassador Thursday and granted forty-eight hours for compliance. This rupture follows regional differences and marks a major shift in Maghreb-Gulf relations, affecting diplomacy and security cooperation.
The Ministry of National Defence declared Algerian airspace closed to all Emirati-registered civilian and military aircraft from midnight Friday, 11 September 2026. The ban covers overflights both ways, regardless of origin or destination, to assert national sovereignty. Authorities will enforce the restriction immediately across Algerian territorial skies.
Emirates commercial flights to and from Houari Boumediene International Airport in Algiers stay exempt until the end of 2026, when the current air services contract expires. Scheduled passenger services continue in both directions during the transition. Other UAE-registered aircraft, including military and unscheduled flights face an immediate prohibition on using the airspace.
These measures show Algeria protecting national interests after cutting ties with the UAE. Travelers and airlines must carefully check official notices on flight operations. The airspace closure and diplomatic break represent a key development in North Africa geopolitics, impacting regional aviation routes and international travel connectivity.