British Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus: Akrotiri and Dhekelia

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:32:00 +0200

This travel article explores the unique British Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) of Akrotiri and Dhekelia on Cyprus, remnants of British colonial rule retained after the island's independence in 1960. Covering about 3% of Cyprus's territory, these enclaves grant the UK full sovereignty to maintain military bases projecting power into the Middle East, near Beirut and Damascus. Unlike other British overseas territories, the SBAs lack their own civil society or economy; nearly 20,000 people, including over 10,000 Cypriots, live or work there under British law while paying taxes and receiving services from the Cypriot government. The SBA Police handles security, traffic, and civil matters in British zones, coordinating with Cypriot police on minor issues. The authors visit sites like the Monastery of Saint Nicholas of the Cats inside Akrotiri, a supermarket near the airbase, and crumbling 1960 border markers. Dhekelia features four Cypriot enclaves, including villages like Ormidia and a power p