Summary:

On 10 September 2026, Algeria announced that it was cutting diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates following years of tensions, with Algiers citing the exhaustion of all efforts to preserve bilateral relations and accusing Abu Dhabi of interfering in its domestic and regional affairs.  

Algeria gave the UAE ambassador 48 hours to leave the country, while President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has repeatedly accused the UAE of seeking to destabilize countries across the region.  

According to The Week, the tensions have also centered on the UAE’s support for Morocco’s position on Western Sahara, its alleged involvement in conflicts and political affairs across the Sahel and North Africa, and alleged support for the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylia (MAK). The UAE has expressed hope that the diplomatic rupture will be temporary and that bilateral ties can eventually be preserved. 

Outlook: 

With Algeria having adopted a firmer position on foreign policy issues, particularly the Western Sahara dispute, its decision to cut diplomatic ties with Abu Dhabi could be read as part of a broader strategic and ideological confrontation rather than a purely bilateral dispute.  

Both countries have sought to expand their influence across North Africa and the Sahel while supporting competing positions on several regional files, creating scope for the dispute to extend into Libya, the Sahel and Algeria’s rivalry with Morocco.  

However, the rupture may not be permanent. Algeria has previously experienced prolonged diplomatic disputes with France before relations gradually improved, suggesting that the current break with Abu Dhabi could also be reversed if both sides eventually see greater value in restoring diplomatic engagement. 

Explore our services or speak with our team of North Africa-based risk experts.