ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways is set to introduce seasonal flights from Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast starting October 4, 2026. The route will link Zayed International Airport with Red Sea International Airport in Tabuk Province. Initially, the airline will operate once weekly, increasing to two flights per week beginning October 25. The flight duration will be a little over three hours, marking the addition of a sixth destination in Saudi Arabia to Etihad’s route network.
An Airbus A320 configured with eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats will serve this route. Etihad stated that travelers within its network can reach the Red Sea with a single connection in Abu Dhabi, including passengers coming from various Gulf and Indian subcontinent markets. Tickets are available now through Etihad’s booking platform for travel starting on the launch date. This new route expands the airline’s Saudi network, which already includes Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim.
The direct link connects Abu Dhabi with a Saudi coastal destination that has increased its scheduled flights since opening. In 2023, Red Sea International Airport began domestic services, followed by international flights in 2024. Qatar Airways started operating flights from Doha to the airport in October 2025, and flydubai launched its first international route from Dubai in April 2024. The airport was developed by Red Sea Global as the main aviation gateway to The Red Sea destination.
Expansion of Etihad’s Saudi network
Located along Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast, the Red Sea destination encompasses islands, reefs, lagoons, mangroves, and inland mountains. According to Red Sea Global, the destination welcomed its first 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. Red Sea International Airport acts as the primary air gateway to the development, utilizing renewable energy for its airside operations, including key lighting and navigation systems.
Currently, Etihad’s Saudi network includes Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim. Red Sea International Airport will become the sixth destination. The airline considers Saudi Arabia one of its most significant regional markets, with consistent traffic from business, family, and religious travelers throughout the year. Adding the Red Sea route introduces a leisure destination while maintaining Abu Dhabi as the main connecting hub. Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves highlighted that the new route places islands and reefs within a short flight of Abu Dhabi.
New direct Gulf connection via airport
The airport was developed and constructed by Red Sea Global, while daa International handles operations. Domestic flights commenced in September 2023, with the first international service from Dubai taking off in April 2024. As airlines expanded scheduled flights, additional routes to the airport were added. The developer emphasizes that the facility serves travelers heading to resorts across the coastal development, with transfers possible by electric vehicle, boat, or seaplane to individual resorts.
Scheduled for October 4, Etihad’s initial Abu Dhabi to Red Sea International flight will operate once, with a twice-weekly schedule beginning three weeks later. Bookings for the route are now available on Etihad’s website. The service will operate year-round in its planned Airbus A320 configuration, which offers 158 seats per flight. No seasonal closure has been announced. With this launch, another nonstop route between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast will be established.
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