ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways plans to commence year-round flights from Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast starting on Oct. 4, 2026. The new service will connect Zayed International Airport with Red Sea International Airport in Tabuk Province. Initially, Etihad will operate one flight per week, increasing to two flights weekly from Oct. 25, with the journey lasting just over three hours, marking the addition of a sixth Saudi destination to Etihad’s route network.
This route will be operated using an Airbus A320 configured with eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats. Etihad stated that travelers from across its network can reach the Red Sea with a single connection in Abu Dhabi, including those arriving from the Gulf region and the Indian subcontinent. Tickets are already available on Etihad’s booking platform for travel from the launch date. The route complements existing connections to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim within Etihad’s Saudi network.
The new service links Abu Dhabi directly to a Saudi coastal destination that has expanded its scheduled air links since opening. Red Sea International Airport started domestic flights in 2023 and began international services in 2024. Qatar Airways began servicing the airport from Doha in October 2025, following flydubai’s inaugural international flight from Dubai in April 2024. Red Sea Global developed the airport as the primary aviation gateway to The Red Sea destination.
Route broadens Etihad’s Saudi presence
Situated along Saudi Arabia’s northwest coast, the Red Sea destination features islands, reefs, lagoons, mangroves, and inland mountain landscapes. According to Red Sea Global, the broader area started welcoming visitors in 2023. As a Public Investment Fund subsidiary, the company is responsible for developing The Red Sea and AMAALA tourism projects. Red Sea International Airport acts as the main air gateway to The Red Sea development and utilizes renewable energy for its airside operations, including key lighting and navigation systems.
Currently, Etihad’s Saudi network includes 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 traffic comprising business, family, and religious travelers throughout the year. The new Red Sea route introduces a leisure destination to this network, maintaining Abu Dhabi as the connecting hub. Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves highlighted that the route places islands and reefs within a short flight of Abu Dhabi.
New Gulf link expands airport connections
Red Sea Global built and delivered 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 increased scheduled routes, Red Sea Global added more connections. The developer states the airport caters to visitors heading to resorts within the coastal development, with transfers to individual resorts available via electric vehicle, boat, or seaplane.
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. Bookings for the route are already accessible on Etihad’s website. The airline’s planned Airbus A320 service configuration offers 158 seats per flight. Etihad intends the route to operate throughout the year without any announced seasonal end. This launch marks another nonstop connection between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.