ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways will initiate nonstop flights connecting Abu Dhabi with Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea shoreline 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 once weekly, increasing to twice weekly from Oct. 25. The flight duration is just over three hours, marking a sixth Saudi destination within Etihad’s flight network.
Operated with an Airbus A320 featuring eight Business Class and 150 Economy Class seats, the airline stated that travelers across its route network can reach the Red Sea with a single connection in Abu Dhabi. This applies to passengers arriving from the Gulf region and the Indian subcontinent. Tickets for the new route are already available on Etihad’s booking platform, starting from the launch date. The addition joins existing Saudi routes to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim in Etihad’s portfolio.
This service links Abu Dhabi directly with a coastal destination that has expanded its flight options since opening. Red Sea International Airport began domestic operations in 2023 and introduced international services in 2024. Qatar Airways started servicing the airport from Doha in October 2025, while flydubai launched its first international flight from Dubai in April 2024. Red Sea Global developed the airport as the main aviation hub for The Red Sea project.
Route broadens Etihad’s Saudi network
Located along Saudi Arabia’s northwest coast, The Red Sea area includes islands, reefs, lagoons, mangroves, and inland mountains. According to Red Sea Global, the broader destination welcomed its first visitors in 2023. The company, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, is responsible for developing The Red Sea and AMAALA tourism projects. The Red Sea International Airport serves as the main entry point for visitors to the region, utilizing renewable energy for its airside operations, including key lighting and navigation systems.
Etihad’s existing Saudi network encompasses Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim, with Red Sea International Airport set to be its sixth destination. The airline considers Saudi Arabia one of its largest regional markets, with regular traffic for business, family, and religious travel throughout the year. The new route to the Red Sea introduces a leisure destination while maintaining Abu Dhabi as the connecting hub. Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves noted that the route brings islands and reefs within a short flight of Abu Dhabi.
Additional Gulf connection established through airport
Red Sea Global developed and commissioned the airport, which is operated by daa International. Domestic flights started in September 2023, followed by the first international service from Dubai in April 2024. Airlines have continued to expand scheduled flights to the destination, with the airport serving tourists heading to resorts along the coast. Transfers to individual resorts can be made by electric vehicle, boat, or seaplane.
The Abu Dhabi to Red Sea International service by Etihad is scheduled to commence on Oct. 4, with the twice-weekly flights beginning three weeks later. Bookings are available on Etihad’s website for the new route. Each flight in the Airbus A320 configuration will carry 158 seats. The airline plans for year-round operation without any announced seasonal cutoff, adding a direct link between the UAE and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.