ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways plans to introduce nonstop flights from Abu Dhabi to the Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea shoreline starting October 4, 2026. The new service will link Zayed International Airport with Red Sea International Airport located in Tabuk Province. Initially, the airline will operate once weekly, with frequency increasing to two flights per week beginning October 25. The flight duration will be just over three hours, marking the addition of a sixth Saudi destination to Etihad’s route network.
The route will be serviced using an Airbus A320 configured with eight seats in Business Class and 150 in Economy Class. According to Etihad, travelers within its network can reach the Red Sea destination via a single connection at Abu Dhabi. This includes passengers arriving from markets across the Gulf and the Indian subcontinent. Tickets for the new route are already available through Etihad’s booking platform for travel starting from the launch date. The new service joins Etihad’s existing Saudi routes to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim.
This latest route offers a direct link from Abu Dhabi to a coastal Saudi destination that has seen increased scheduled air services since its opening. Red Sea International Airport began domestic operations in 2023 and expanded to international flights in 2024. Qatar Airways started flying to the airport from Doha in October 2025, following flydubai’s launch of its first international flight from Dubai in April 2024. The airport was developed by Red Sea Global as the primary gateway to The Red Sea destination.
Route Extends Etihad’s Saudi Arabian Network
The Red Sea area is situated along Saudi Arabia’s northwest coast. It features islands, reefs, lagoons, mangroves, and inland mountains. According to Red Sea Global, the broader destination began welcoming visitors in 2023. The company, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, is developing The Red Sea and AMAALA tourism projects. Red Sea International Airport serves as the main aviation gateway for The Red Sea development. The airport operates with renewable energy sources for key functions such as lighting and navigation systems.
Currently, Etihad’s Saudi network includes Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim. Red Sea International Airport will become the sixth destination within this network. The airline considers Saudi Arabia one of its largest regional markets. Its current traffic comprises business, family, and religious travelers throughout the year. The new Red Sea route introduces a leisure destination into this network while maintaining Abu Dhabi as the key connecting hub. Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves stated that the route makes islands and reefs accessible within a short flight from Abu Dhabi.
Additional Direct Gulf Connection at the Airport
Red Sea Global took on the development and delivery of the airport, with daa International overseeing operations. The airport began domestic flights in September 2023, followed by its first international route from Dubai in April 2024. Over time, more airlines added services to the airport as scheduled flights expanded. The developer highlights that the airport primarily serves visitors heading to resorts along the coast. Transfers to resorts can be made via electric vehicles, boats, or seaplanes, depending on the destination.
The scheduled Abu Dhabi to Red Sea International flight by Etihad is set to commence on October 4, with a twice-weekly schedule starting three weeks later. Etihad has made bookable itineraries available on its website. Each flight, configured with an A320, will have 158 seats. The airline plans for the route to operate throughout the year and has not announced any seasonal suspension. This launch will bring another nonstop connection between the United Arab Emirates and the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coast.