ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways will introduce scheduled year-round flights connecting Abu Dhabi with Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline starting on Oct. 4, 2026. This new route will link Zayed International Airport to Red Sea International Airport in the Tabuk Province. Initially, the airline will operate one flight per week, increasing to twice weekly from Oct. 25. The journey duration is just over three hours, marking the addition of a sixth Saudi destination to Etihad’s route network.
The service will be operated using an Airbus A320 aircraft, configured with eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats. According to Etihad, travelers from across its network can reach the Red Sea with a single connection in Abu Dhabi, including passengers arriving from markets throughout the Gulf and the Indian subcontinent. Tickets for the new route are already available through Etihad’s booking system for travel starting on the launch date. This route will expand the airline’s presence in Saudi Arabia, joining Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim within its Saudi network.
The new route directly connects Abu Dhabi with a Saudi coastal destination that has grown its scheduled air services since opening. Red Sea International Airport began domestic operations in 2023 and added international flights in 2024. Qatar Airways started serving the airport from Doha in October 2025, after flydubai launched its first international route from Dubai in April 2024. The airport was developed by Red Sea Global as the primary aviation gateway to The Red Sea destination.
Expansion of Etihad’s Saudi network with new route
Located along Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast, Red Sea International Airport serves an area renowned for its islands, reefs, lagoons, mangroves, and inland mountain landscapes. According to Red Sea Global, the broader Red Sea destination began welcoming visitors in 2023. As a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, Red Sea Global is responsible for developing The Red Sea and AMAALA tourism projects. The airport functions as the main air gateway to The Red Sea development, employing renewable energy for its airside operations, including lighting and navigation systems.
Currently, Etihad’s Saudi route network includes Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim, with Red Sea International Airport poised to become the sixth destination. The airline describes Saudi Arabia as one of its largest regional markets, with ongoing traffic driven by business, family visits, and religious travel throughout the year. The addition of the Red Sea route introduces a leisure travel option to the network while maintaining Abu Dhabi as the central connecting hub. Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves noted that the route brings islands and reefs within a short flight of Abu Dhabi.
Airport enhances Gulf connectivity with direct service
The airport was developed and built by Red Sea Global and is operated by daa International. Domestic flights commenced in September 2023, followed by the first international service from Dubai in April 2024. Subsequently, Red Sea Global has expanded the network as more airlines add scheduled flights to the destination. The airport mainly serves visitors heading to resorts across the coastal development, with transfers to individual resorts available via electric vehicles, boats, or seaplanes.
The inaugural Abu Dhabi to Red Sea International flight by Etihad is scheduled for Oct. 4, with the twice-weekly service commencing three weeks later. Bookings for the route are already available on Etihad’s website. The Airbus A320 aircraft configured for this route offers 158 seats per flight. Etihad plans to operate the service year-round and has not announced an end date for the seasonal operation. This new nonstop connection strengthens the links between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.