ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways will initiate year-round flights connecting Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline starting on Oct. 4, 2026. The route will link Zayed International Airport with Red Sea International Airport situated in Tabuk Province. Initially, Etihad will operate one flight per week, increasing to two weekly services from Oct. 25. The flight duration is approximately three hours and ten minutes, marking the addition of a sixth Saudi destination to Etihad’s route network.
Operating this route with an Airbus A320 configured with eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats, Etihad emphasizes that travelers across its network can now reach the Red Sea via a single connection at Abu Dhabi. This convenience extends to passengers arriving from Gulf countries and the Indian subcontinent. Tickets for travel from the launch date are already available on Etihad’s booking platform. The new route joins the airline’s existing Saudi destinations of Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim.
This new service links Abu Dhabi directly with a Saudi coastal area that has seen an increase in scheduled flights since opening. Red Sea International Airport started domestic flights in 2023 and introduced international routes in 2024. Qatar Airways began operating flights from Doha to the airport in October 2025, and flydubai launched its first international service 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
Situated along Saudi Arabia’s northwest coast, the Red Sea destination features islands, reefs, lagoons, mangroves, and mountainous inland terrain. Red Sea Global reports that the broader area welcomed visitors starting 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 main air gateway for The Red Sea development, utilizing renewable energy sources for its airside operations, including critical lighting and navigation systems.
Currently, Etihad’s Saudi network includes Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim, with Red Sea International poised to become the sixth destination. The airline highlights Saudi Arabia as one of its largest regional markets, with consistent traffic involving business, family, and religious travel throughout the year. The new Red Sea route introduces a leisure destination to this network while maintaining Abu Dhabi as the hub. Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves noted that the route brings islands and reefs within a short flight of Abu Dhabi.
Additional direct Gulf connection established by the airport
The airport was developed and built by Red Sea Global, with daa International managing its operations. Domestic flights commenced in September 2023, followed by the first international flight from Dubai in April 2024. Subsequently, Red Sea Global added more airline services as scheduled flights to the destination expanded. The developer states the airport primarily caters to visitors heading to resorts within the coastal development, with transfer options available via electric vehicle, boat, or seaplane to various resort areas.
Scheduled to begin on Oct. 4, the Abu Dhabi to Red Sea International service will initially operate twice weekly starting three weeks later. Bookings for the route are already available on Etihad’s website. The Airbus A320 configured aircraft will offer 158 seats per flight. The airline intends to operate this route throughout the year without any announced seasonal termination, providing a nonstop link between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.