Algeria announced on Thursday that it has severed diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates after what it described as a series of provocative or hostile actions by Abu Dhabi.

The Algerian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the government had exercised restraint and issued repeated warnings, yet the UAE continued its conduct to a point where it could no longer be considered acceptable between sovereign states. Officials summoned the UAE ambassador to the ministry, informed him of the decision, and granted him 48 hours to comply.

The ministry stated that Algeria had exhausted all means of preserving bilateral relations. No specific actions were detailed in the announcement.

Tensions between the two countries have built over several years. Algeria has opposed the UAE's normalization of relations with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords. The countries also differ sharply on the Western Sahara dispute, with Algeria backing the Polisario Front's push for independence and the UAE supporting Morocco's sovereignty claim.

Algerian officials have previously accused the UAE of interfering in Algeria's internal affairs and seeking to destabilize the country. In October 2025, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune referred to warm ties with Gulf states except one, widely understood as the UAE. Earlier this year, Algeria moved to terminate an air services agreement with the UAE.

The UAE Foreign Ministry offered no immediate comment. Presidential adviser Anwar Gargash posted on X that diplomatic relations should be managed through rationality, communication, and clarity of interests rather than statements requiring interpretation.

The move marks a significant escalation in regional rivalries involving North Africa and the Gulf. Algeria maintains close ties with other Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.