Algeria has ordered the closure of its airspace to all civilian and military aircraft registered in the United Arab Emirates, marking a sharp escalation in tensions after Algiers formally cut diplomatic relations with Abu Dhabi.
The measure, announced by Algeria's Ministry of Defence, is set to take effect at midnight and will bar UAE-registered aircraft from entering or crossing Algerian airspace.
The restriction applies to both civilian and military aircraft. However, Algerian authorities said commercial passenger flights operating to and from Houari Boumediene International Airport in Algiers will be allowed to continue temporarily under the terms of an existing aviation agreement between the two countries.
Officials stated that those flights will remain operational until the agreement expires at the end of 2026.
The airspace closure follows Algeria's decision to formally end diplomatic relations with the UAE after what it described as a prolonged deterioration in bilateral ties.
In a statement, Algeria's Foreign Ministry said repeated efforts to preserve relations had failed and accused the UAE of pursuing actions that it regarded as increasingly hostile and provocative.
Algerian authorities said they had repeatedly warned Abu Dhabi about the potential consequences of its policies but claimed that those concerns had gone unaddressed.
According to the ministry, the situation had reached a point where maintaining normal diplomatic relations was no longer possible.
The government said all available channels aimed at preventing a rupture had been exhausted before the decision was taken.
Relations between Algeria and the United Arab Emirates have been under strain for several years due to a combination of regional rivalries and foreign policy disagreements.
Algerian leaders have repeatedly criticised Abu Dhabi's role in regional affairs, accusing it of exerting influence in countries such as Libya, Mali and Sudan.
The two governments have also found themselves on opposite sides of key geopolitical issues, notably the Western Sahara dispute, where the UAE backs Morocco's sovereignty claim while Algeria supports the Polisario Front's independence movement.
Tensions were further deepened by the UAE's normalisation of relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords and controversies involving UAE-based media coverage that drew sharp criticism from Algiers.
These accumulated disputes ultimately led Algeria to end diplomatic relations, citing what it described as a pattern of increasingly hostile and provocative behaviour.
The closure of Algerian airspace is expected to affect aviation routes involving UAE carriers and military aircraft operating across North Africa and the Mediterranean region.
While commercial services will continue for several months under existing arrangements, the longer-term future of air links between the two countries remains uncertain.
Analysts say the move represents one of the most significant diplomatic disputes between two major Arab states in recent years.
The UAE responded by expressing regret over Algeria's decision and voiced hope that the diplomatic break would prove temporary.
In a statement, the Emirati Foreign Ministry said the UAE remained committed to maintaining constructive relations with countries around the world and stressed the importance of dialogue, cooperation and mutual understanding.
Abu Dhabi also called for the preservation of what it described as the historic and fraternal ties linking the peoples of the two countries.
The ministry emphasised its respect for the Algerian people and said it would continue supporting relations with Algerian citizens living in or visiting the UAE.
The diplomatic rupture introduces a new period of uncertainty into relations between the two countries, which have traditionally maintained political, economic and commercial links despite occasional disagreements on regional issues.
Neither side has indicated whether mediation efforts could be pursued to restore ties.
Türkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia have signed a new defence industry agreement in Doha, bringing existing military projects under a share...
Georgia's Constitutional Court has begun hearing a landmark case that could see five opposition parties banned following a legal challenge by t...
Türkiye has welcomed Libya's parliamentary approval of a disputed maritime agreement, despite strong opposition from the European Union, w...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Norway for talks about the Russia-Ukraine war. He is expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who arrived in Oslo earlier. Witkoff will also meet European officials.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said regional issues should be resolved through diplomacy and blamed the United States for insecurity and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, speaking at a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday.
Yemen's Houthis have denied targeting the holy city of Medina on Wednesday adding that they have not conducted any military operations towards Saudi Arabia either, denying earlier comments from the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, with discussions focused on the war in Ukraine and the prospects for progress in ongoing diplomatic efforts.
French authorities imposed local curfews in parts of Paris, Lille and Nice on Monday after a weekend of riots and looting linked to nationwide anti-government protests, as the government faced mounting criticism over security failures.
Türkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia have signed a new defence industry agreement in Doha, bringing existing military projects under a shared framework as Turkish defence exports reach record highs.
British PM Andy Burnham has rejected calls to reconsider the UK’s ban on Palestine Action, insisting that the decision was based on evidence and had undergone parliamentary scrutiny. He said on Wednesday that he would not comment further while legal proceedings remain ongoing.
Russia has released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired American teacher from Michigan held for more than four years after being detained by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, with discussions focused on the war in Ukraine and the prospects for progress in ongoing diplomatic efforts.
The European Union has unveiled a new Arctic strategy to bolster regional security, with plans to expand satellite surveillance, protect undersea infrastructure and help member states acquire more icebreakers.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment