Algeria has officially initiated the process to terminate its air services agreement with the United Arab Emirates, a move that signals a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two nations. The agreement, in effect since 2013, governed air transport cooperation and its cancellation raises questions about the future of direct flights and logistical operations between the countries.
The termination of the air services agreement is widely viewed as the latest development in a growing diplomatic crisis between Algeria and the UAE. Algerian media and high-ranking officials have repeatedly accused Abu Dhabi of attempting to sow discord and interfere in the internal affairs of North African nations. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has previously alluded to the UAE’s “destructive role,” contrasting relations with Abu Dhabi unfavorably against those with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman.
Algerian authorities perceive the UAE’s actions as a threat to national security and an attempt to undermine stability within the Maghreb region. The cancellation of the aviation pact, ratified in 2014, directly impacts the operational framework for airlines and air transport between the two countries. While the specific technical reasons for the rupture were not officially detailed, the move aligns with broader concerns about alleged Emirati interference and support for separatist movements, such as the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylia (MAK), which Algeria has designated as a terrorist organization.
The termination process is being carried out in accordance with Article 22 of the agreement, which requires official notification to the UAE through diplomatic channels and informing the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This legal step ensures adherence to international procedures, even as the agreement is dissolved. The original pact, signed in 2013, aimed to promote reciprocal air transport services, granting rights such as airspace crossing, non-commercial landings, and the operation of international passenger and cargo flights. It also included provisions for financial exemptions and security cooperation.
International experts anticipate that Algeria’s decision could prompt reciprocal measures from the UAE, potentially leading to further isolation of their respective aviation sectors. The full implications of this cancellation on bilateral relations and regional air connectivity remain to be seen, but it underscores a significant deterioration in ties between Algiers and Abu Dhabi.