ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways will commence scheduled flights connecting Abu Dhabi with Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea region 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 a week, increasing to two weekly flights from Oct. 25. The journey duration is just over three hours, marking the addition of a sixth Saudi destination to Etihad’s route network.
The airline plans to operate this route using an Airbus A320, configured with eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats. Etihad has stated that travelers from its network can access the Red Sea with a single connection in Abu Dhabi, including passengers arriving from markets across the Gulf and the Indian subcontinent. Tickets for travel from the launch date are already accessible through Etihad’s booking platform. This route expands the carrier’s Saudi network, joining Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim.
This new connection links Abu Dhabi directly to a coastal destination in Saudi Arabia that has increased its scheduled flights since opening. Red Sea International Airport began domestic services in 2023 and launched international flights in 2024. Qatar Airways started operating flights from Doha to the airport in October 2025, while flydubai began its first international route from Dubai in April 2024. Red Sea Global developed the airport as the primary aviation entry point to The Red Sea destination.
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 mountainous landscapes. According to Red Sea Global, the broader destination welcomed visitors starting in 2023. The company, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, is responsible for developing The Red Sea and AMAALA tourism projects. The airport serves as the main air gateway to The Red Sea development and operates with renewable energy sources, including key lighting and navigation systems.
Currently, Etihad’s Saudi routes include Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim. Red Sea International Airport is set to become the sixth destination. The airline considers Saudi Arabia one of its key regional markets, serving business, family, and religious travelers year-round. The new Red Sea route introduces a leisure destination to its Saudi network while maintaining Abu Dhabi as the hub for connections. Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves remarked that the route places islands and reefs within a short flight of Abu Dhabi.
Airport enhances Gulf connectivity with another direct link
Red Sea Global constructed and delivered the airport, which is operated by daa International. Domestic flights commenced in September 2023, with the first international service from Dubai launching in April 2024. As airlines expanded scheduled flights to the airport, additional routes were added. The developer states the airport primarily serves visitors heading to resorts within the coastal development, with transfer options available by electric vehicle, boat, or seaplane to individual resort areas.
Etihad’s inaugural Abu Dhabi to Red Sea International route is scheduled for Oct. 4, with the twice-weekly service beginning three weeks later. The airline has already posted bookable flights for the route on its website. The Airbus A320 aircraft configuration offers a total of 158 seats per flight. The airline intends for the route to operate year-round, with no announced seasonal end date. With this launch, Etihad adds another nonstop connection between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.