ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways is set to commence nonstop flights connecting Abu Dhabi with Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea region starting Oct. 4, 2026. These flights will link Zayed International Airport to Red Sea International Airport located in Tabuk Province. Initially, the airline will operate one flight per week, increasing to twice weekly from Oct. 25. The journey duration will be just over three hours, marking the addition of a sixth Saudi destination to Etihad’s existing route network.
The airline plans to run this route using an Airbus A320 configured with eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats. According to Etihad, travelers connecting through its network can reach the Red Sea with a single stop in Abu Dhabi, serving passengers arriving from various markets across the Gulf and the Indian subcontinent. Tickets for the new route are already available on Etihad’s booking platform, effective from the launch date. The route complements existing services to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim within the airline’s Saudi network.
This new service directly links Abu Dhabi with a Saudi coastal destination that has expanded its air connections since opening. Red Sea International Airport began domestic flights in 2023 and introduced international services in 2024. In October 2025, Qatar Airways started flights from Doha, following flydubai’s initial international route from Dubai in April 2024. The airport was developed by Red Sea Global as the primary aviation hub for the Red Sea tourism region.
Expansion of Etihad’s Saudi Flight Network
Located along Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast, the Red Sea destination encompasses islands, reefs, lagoons, mangroves, and inland mountain landscapes. Red Sea Global reports that the broader destination opened to visitors in 2023. As a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, the company is responsible for developing The Red Sea and AMAALA tourism projects. Red Sea International Airport functions as the primary air gateway to The Red Sea development, operating on renewable energy for its airside systems, including lighting and navigation.
Etihad’s current Saudi network includes Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim, with Red Sea International Airport becoming the sixth destination. The airline highlights Saudi Arabia as one of its key regional markets, serving business, family, and religious travelers throughout the year. The new Red Sea route introduces a leisure-focused destination to the network while maintaining Abu Dhabi as the main connecting hub. Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves noted that the route places islands and reefs within a short flight of Abu Dhabi.
Red Sea Airport Strengthens Gulf Connectivity
The airport was developed and delivered by Red Sea Global, with daa International operating it. Domestic flights commenced in September 2023, followed by the first international route from Dubai in April 2024. As airlines expanded scheduled services, additional links to the airport were added. The developer states that the facility serves tourists heading to resorts in the coastal development, with transfers available by electric vehicle, boat, or seaplane to individual resort areas.
Etihad’s inaugural Abu Dhabi to Red Sea International flight is scheduled for Oct. 4, with a twice-weekly service beginning three weeks later. The airline has already published tickets and itineraries on its website. The planned A320 aircraft configuration offers 158 seats per flight. Etihad intends to operate the route year-round without announcing a seasonal termination. With this launch, the airline expands its direct flight options between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.