ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways is set to commence year-round flights connecting Abu Dhabi with Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast starting on Oct. 4, 2026. The route will link Zayed International Airport to Red Sea International Airport located in Tabuk Province. Initially, the airline will operate one flight per week, increasing to two flights weekly from Oct. 25. The journey duration is just over three hours, making it the sixth Saudi destination in Etihad’s network.
Operated by an Airbus A320 configured with eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats, the airline will manage this route. Etihad highlighted that travelers across its entire network can reach the Red Sea with a single connection in Abu Dhabi, including those arriving from Gulf countries and the Indian subcontinent. Tickets for travel from the launch date are already available through Etihad’s booking platform. This new route joins the airline’s existing Saudi destinations of Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim.
The new service establishes a direct link between Abu Dhabi and a Saudi coastal location that has expanded its scheduled flight options following its opening. Red Sea International Airport began domestic operations in 2023 and introduced international flights in 2024. Qatar Airways started flights from Doha to this airport in October 2025, and flydubai launched its inaugural international service from Dubai in April 2024. The airport was developed by Red Sea Global as the primary aviation gateway to The Red Sea tourism destination.
Network growth enhances Etihad’s presence in Saudi Arabia
Located along Saudi Arabia’s northwestern shoreline, the Red Sea destination features islands, reefs, lagoons, mangroves, and inland mountainous regions. According to Red Sea Global, the wider destination started welcoming visitors in 2023. As a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, the company is responsible for developing The Red Sea and AMAALA tourism zones. Red Sea International Airport functions as the main air gateway into The Red Sea project and utilizes renewable energy sources for its airside operations, including essential lighting and navigation systems.
Etihad’s existing Saudi network includes Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim, with Red Sea International set to be its sixth destination. The airline considers Saudi Arabia one of its largest regional markets, with ongoing business, family, and religious travel throughout the year. The addition of the Red Sea route introduces a leisure destination to the network while maintaining Abu Dhabi as the primary hub. Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves stated that the route positions islands and reefs within a short flight from Abu Dhabi.
New airport connection broadens Gulf travel options
The airport was built and delivered by Red Sea Global, while daa International oversees its operations. Domestic flights started in September 2023, followed by the first international service from Dubai in April 2024. As airlines expanded scheduled services, more routes to the airport were added. The developer noted that the airport caters to visitors heading to resorts throughout the coastal development, with transfer options including electric vehicles, boats, or seaplanes to reach individual resorts.
Etihad’s inaugural Abu Dhabi to Red Sea International flight remains scheduled for Oct. 4, with the twice-weekly service beginning three weeks later. Bookings for the route are available on Etihad’s website. Each flight on the Airbus A320 will carry 158 passengers, and the airline plans to operate the route year-round without announcing any seasonal cessation. The new route marks another nonstop connection between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.