ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways plans to commence year-round flights connecting Abu Dhabi with Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast starting on Oct. 4, 2026. The route will link Zayed International Airport to Red Sea International Airport in Tabuk Province. Initially, the airline will operate one flight weekly, increasing to two weekly flights from Oct. 25. The journey duration will be approximately three hours and ten minutes, 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. According to Etihad, travelers from across its network can access the Red Sea with just one connection in Abu Dhabi, including passengers arriving from markets throughout the Gulf and Indian subcontinent. Tickets for the new route are already available through Etihad’s booking platform for travel starting from the launch date. The route complements existing flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim within the airline’s Saudi network.
This new route connects Abu Dhabi directly with a Saudi coastal area that has increased its scheduled air services since opening. Red Sea International Airport began domestic flights in 2023 and added international routes in 2024. Qatar Airways launched flights from Doha to the airport in October 2025, following flydubai’s first international service from Dubai in April 2024. Developed by Red Sea Global, the airport serves as the primary air gateway to The Red Sea destination.
Expansion of Etihad’s Saudi network with new route
Located along Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast, The Red Sea destination features islands, reefs, lagoons, mangroves, and inland mountainous terrain. According to Red Sea Global, the destination has been welcoming visitors since 2023. The company, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, is responsible for developing The Red Sea and AMAALA tourism projects. Red Sea International Airport functions as the main aviation hub for the development, utilizing renewable energy for its airside operations, including key lighting and navigation systems.
Currently, Etihad’s Saudi routes include flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim, with Red Sea International Airport set to become the sixth destination. The airline considers Saudi Arabia one of its largest regional markets, with regular traffic driven by business, family, and religious travelers throughout the year. The addition of the Red Sea route introduces a leisure travel option while maintaining Abu Dhabi as the connecting hub. Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves emphasized that the new service brings islands and reefs within a short flight of Abu Dhabi.
New Gulf connection enhances airport offerings
The airport was developed and delivered by Red Sea Global, with daa International responsible for operations. Domestic flights commenced in September 2023, followed by the first international flight from Dubai in April 2024. Red Sea Global subsequently expanded flight options as airlines increased scheduled services to the airport. The developer states that the airport primarily caters to visitors heading to resorts across the coastal development, with transfers to individual resort areas available via electric vehicles, boats, or seaplanes.
The scheduled Abu Dhabi to Red Sea International route by Etihad remains set to begin on Oct. 4, with service frequency increasing to twice weekly three weeks later. Tickets for the route are available on Etihad’s website. The Airbus A320 aircraft configuration provides a total of 158 seats per flight. Etihad intends for the route to operate throughout the year and has not announced any seasonal suspension. With this launch, the airline adds another nonstop connection between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.