ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways is set to introduce year-round flights from Abu Dhabi to the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia starting on Oct. 4, 2026. This new service will link Zayed International Airport with Red Sea International Airport located in Tabuk Province. Initially, the airline will operate once weekly, increasing to two flights per week from Oct. 25. The flight duration is just over three hours, making it the sixth Saudi destination added to Etihad’s route network.
The route will be served by an Airbus A320 featuring eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats. Etihad has noted that travelers from its network can reach the Red Sea with a single transfer in Abu Dhabi, including passengers arriving from regions across the Gulf and the Indian subcontinent. Ticket sales for travel from the launch date are already available via Etihad’s booking platform. This new route complements existing Saudi destinations such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim in the airline’s regional network.
Connecting Abu Dhabi directly with a coastal city in Saudi Arabia that has enhanced its flight offerings since its opening, this service marks an important development. In 2023, Red Sea International Airport began domestic operations, followed by international flights in 2024. Qatar Airways started flying from Doha to the airport in October 2025, after flydubai launched its first international route from Dubai in April 2024. The airport was developed by Red Sea Global as the main aviation gateway for The Red Sea project.
Route broadens Etihad’s presence in Saudi Arabia
Located along Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast, the Red Sea destination features islands, reefs, lagoons, mangroves, and inland mountain landscapes. Red Sea Global states that the broader area started welcoming visitors in 2023. As a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, the company is behind the development of The Red Sea and AMAALA tourism sites. Red Sea International Airport is the main air gateway to The Red Sea development, operating with renewable energy for its key lighting and navigation systems.
Currently, Etihad’s Saudi network includes Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim, with Red Sea International set to become the sixth destination. The airline describes Saudi Arabia as one of its largest regional markets, with consistent traffic from business, family, and religious travelers throughout the year. The new route to the Red Sea offers a leisure travel option within this network while maintaining Abu Dhabi as the key hub. Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves mentioned that the route brings islands and reefs within a short flight from Abu Dhabi.
New direct link enhances Gulf connections through the airport
Red Sea Global was responsible for developing and delivering the airport, which is operated by daa International. Domestic flights began in September 2023, followed by the first international service from Dubai in April 2024. As airlines expanded scheduled routes, more connections were added, including services from Doha by Qatar Airways in October 2025. The airport caters to visitors heading to resorts along the coast, with transfers available via electric vehicle, boat, or seaplane to various resort zones.
The inaugural Abu Dhabi to Red Sea International flight by Etihad is scheduled for Oct. 4, with the twice-weekly service starting three weeks later. The airline has made bookable itineraries available on its website. The aircraft configuration planned for the route, an A320, provides 158 seats per flight. The airline intends for the route to operate throughout the year and has not announced any seasonal cessation. With this addition, Etihad introduces another nonstop route linking the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.