ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways will introduce year-round flights from Abu Dhabi to the Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast starting on Oct. 4, 2026. The route will connect Zayed International Airport with Red Sea International Airport in Tabuk Province. Initially, the airline will operate once weekly, increasing to twice weekly from Oct. 25. The flight duration will be just over three hours, marking the addition of a sixth Saudi destination to Etihad’s network.
Etihad will operate this route using an Airbus A320 equipped with eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats. According to the airline, travelers from its network can access the Red Sea with a single transfer in Abu Dhabi. This includes passengers arriving from markets across the Gulf and the Indian subcontinent. Tickets are already available on Etihad’s booking platform for travel from the launch date. The new route expands Etihad’s Saudi network, joining Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim.
The new service links Abu Dhabi directly with a coastal Saudi destination that has increased its scheduled flights since opening. Red Sea International Airport started domestic flights in 2023 and added international services in 2024. Qatar Airways began flying from Doha to the airport in October 2025, following flydubai’s first international route from Dubai in April 2024. The airport was developed by Red Sea Global as the main gateway to The Red Sea destination.
Etihad’s Saudi network expands with new route
Located along Saudi Arabia’s northwest coast, Red Sea International Airport connects islands, reefs, lagoons, mangroves, and mountain landscapes inland. Red Sea Global states the larger destination welcomed visitors starting in 2023. As a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, the company develops The Red Sea and AMAALA tourism projects. The airport serves as the primary air link to The Red Sea. It operates using renewable energy, including for key lighting and navigation systems.
Etihad’s current Saudi destinations include Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim. Red Sea International Airport will become the sixth. The airline considers Saudi Arabia one of its largest regional markets. Its traffic includes business, family, and religious travelers year-round. The Red Sea route adds a leisure option while Abu Dhabi remains the main hub. Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves highlighted that the route brings islands and reefs within a short flight of Abu Dhabi.
Airport enhances Gulf connectivity with new direct route
Red Sea Global built and now manages the airport, with daa International operating it. Domestic flights started in September 2023. The first international service from Dubai launched in April 2024. As airlines expanded service, more routes to the airport were added. The developer states the airport serves visitors heading to resorts across the coast. Transfers to resorts can be made via electric vehicles, boats, or seaplanes.
Etihad’s inaugural Abu Dhabi to Red Sea International flight is scheduled for Oct. 4. The twice-weekly service will start three weeks later. Bookings for the route are now available on Etihad’s website. The aircraft configuration for the route is an A320 with 158 seats. The airline plans to operate the route year-round without announcing any seasonal termination. This new service will establish another nonstop connection between the UAE and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.