Tuesday January 13, 2026
UAE jets [Aaron Allmon, U.S. Air Force/Wikipedia]
Somalia has reportedly banned military and cargo aircraft owned or leased by the United Arab Emirates from entering its airspace, in a move that signals a sharp escalation in tensions between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi.
According to media reports citing Somali security sources, the decision follows suspicions that the UAE transported Aidarus al-Zubaidi, head of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, through Somali territory without the approval or prior knowledge of Somali security authorities.
They added that one of six Emirati military and cargo aircraft that had landed at Somali airports violated the ban twice, on Friday and Saturday, prompting the government in Mogadishu to warn of further measures. Other reports said Somali authorities approved a limited number of exception flights, including six evacuation flights from Bosaso Airport and four from Mogadishu, to facilitate the withdrawal of Emirati forces and military equipment.
Somali sources stressed that the ban does not apply to civilian airlines, including flydubai.
While field indicators point to a gradual dismantling of the Emirati military presence in Somalia, diplomatic and security sources described the airspace ban as the most significant step taken in relations between the two countries since the start of their security cooperation, reflecting an unprecedented level of strain.
Earlier this month, reports said Saudi Arabia imposed a ban on Emirati military cargo planes transiting its airspace. According to those reports, Emirati aircraft carrying equipment and weapons allegedly destined for Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces via Libya began using an alternative route through Somaliland, then Ethiopia, to airports in Chad, before reaching Libya.
Neither the Somali government nor Emirati authorities have issued an official public statement confirming the reported ban.