ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways has announced plans to begin year-round flights from Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast on Oct. 4, 2026. The airline’s new service will link Zayed International Airport with Red Sea International Airport in Tabuk Province. Initially, flights will operate once per week, increasing to twice weekly from Oct. 25. The journey duration is slightly over three hours, marking the addition of a sixth Saudi destination in Etihad’s route network.
This route will be serviced by an Airbus A320 configured with eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats. Etihad highlighted that passengers across its network will be able to reach the Red Sea with just a single connection in Abu Dhabi, including travelers coming from markets across the Gulf and the Indian subcontinent. Tickets for the route are already accessible via Etihad’s booking platform for travel starting on the launch date. This new connection joins existing routes to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim in the airline’s Saudi route portfolio.
The service directly links Abu Dhabi with a coastal destination in Saudi Arabia that has seen an increase in scheduled air links since its opening. Red Sea International Airport began domestic operations in 2023 and introduced international flights in 2024. Qatar Airways began serving the airport from Doha in October 2025, following flydubai’s inaugural international route from Dubai in April 2024. The airport was developed by Red Sea Global as the main aviation gateway to The Red Sea tourism destination.
Route broadens Etihad’s Saudi route network
Located along Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast, the Red Sea destination includes islands, reefs, lagoons, mangroves, and inland mountain landscapes. Red Sea Global states that the broader destination started welcoming 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 functions as the main air gateway to The Red Sea development, operating with renewable energy for its airside functions, including key lighting and navigation systems.
Etihad’s existing Saudi network comprises Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim, with Red Sea International Airport set to be the sixth destination. The airline considers Saudi Arabia one of its largest regional markets, with ongoing traffic for business, family, and religious travel throughout the year. The new Red Sea route introduces a leisure destination into this network, maintaining Abu Dhabi as the main connecting hub. Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves remarked that the route places islands and reefs within a short flight from Abu Dhabi.
Additional direct Gulf connection established via new airport
The airport was developed and delivered by Red Sea Global, with daa International responsible for its operation. Domestic flights started in September 2023, followed by the first international service from Dubai in April 2024. Subsequently, more airlines expanded scheduled services, as the airport became a key access point for visitors heading to resorts across the coastal development. Transfers from the airport can continue via electric vehicle, boat, or seaplane to various resort areas.
The scheduled first flight from Abu Dhabi to Red Sea International Airport remains set for Oct. 4, with a twice-weekly pattern beginning three weeks later. Tickets for the route are available on Etihad’s website. The airline’s Airbus A320 configuration provides 158 seats per flight. Etihad has planned the service to operate throughout the year and has not announced a seasonal termination. With this launch, the airline adds another nonstop link between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.