ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways is set to introduce a year-round service connecting Abu Dhabi with Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast starting on Oct. 4, 2026. The new route will link Zayed International Airport to Red Sea International Airport located in Tabuk Province. Initially, the airline will operate once weekly, with the frequency increasing to twice weekly beginning Oct. 25. The flight 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, configured with eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats. Etihad stated that travelers from across its network can access the Red Sea with a single connection in Abu Dhabi, including those arriving from regions across the Gulf and the Indian subcontinent. Tickets for the new route are already available through Etihad’s booking platform, with travel commencing on the launch date. This new route joins the airline’s existing Saudi destinations of Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim within its regional network.
The new flight service creates a direct link between Abu Dhabi and a coastal area in Saudi Arabia that has expanded its scheduled air connections since its opening. Red Sea International Airport started domestic flights in 2023 and introduced international routes in 2024. Qatar Airways began serving the airport from Doha in October 2025, following flydubai’s launch of its inaugural international flight from Dubai in April 2024. The airport was developed by Red Sea Global as the main aviation gateway to The Red Sea destination.
Route broadens Etihad’s presence in Saudi Arabia
Located along Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coastline, the Red Sea destination encompasses islands, reefs, lagoons, mangroves, and inland mountains. According to Red Sea Global, the larger 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 serves as the main aerial access point for The Red Sea development. The airport operates using renewable energy, powering key lighting and navigation systems.
Etihad’s current Saudi network includes Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim, with Red Sea International Airport poised to become the sixth destination. The airline highlights Saudi Arabia as one of its most significant regional markets, with consistent business, family, and religious travel throughout the year. The addition of the Red Sea route introduces a leisure-focused destination while maintaining Abu Dhabi as the central hub. Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves remarked that the route brings islands and reefs within a short flight of Abu Dhabi.
Additional Gulf connection at the airport
Red Sea Global oversaw the development and delivery of the airport, with daa International managing its operations. Domestic flights began in September 2023, followed by the first international flight from Dubai in April 2024. Since then, more airlines have added routes to the airport as scheduled services expanded. The developer emphasizes that the airport serves travelers heading to resorts along the coast, with transfers available by electric vehicle, boat, or seaplane to various resort areas.
The inaugural Abu Dhabi to Red Sea International flight by Etihad is scheduled for Oct. 4, with a twice-weekly service starting three weeks afterward. Bookings for the route are now available on Etihad’s website. The Airbus A320 aircraft configuration allows for 158 seats per flight. The airline intends for the service to operate all year, and no seasonal termination has been announced. With this launch, Etihad will establish another nonstop route linking the United Arab Emirates to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.