ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways will inaugurate year-round flights from Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline starting on Oct. 4, 2026. The route will connect Zayed International Airport with Red Sea International Airport in Tabuk Province. Initially, the airline will operate once weekly, increasing to two flights per week beginning on Oct. 25. The flight duration is just over three hours, marking the addition of a sixth Saudi destination to Etihad’s flight network.
This route will be served by an Airbus A320 configured with eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats. Etihad stated that travelers within its network can reach the Red Sea with a single connection in Abu Dhabi, facilitating access for passengers arriving from regions across the Gulf and the Indian subcontinent. Tickets for the new route are already available via Etihad’s booking platform, effective from the launch date. The service expands the airline’s Saudi portfolio, which already includes Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim.
The new flight route connects Abu Dhabi directly with a key Saudi coastal destination that has enhanced its scheduled air links since its opening. Red Sea International Airport commenced domestic flights in 2023 and began international services in 2024. Qatar Airways started operating flights from Doha to the airport in October 2025, following flydubai’s initial international route from Dubai in April 2024. The airport was developed by Red Sea Global as a central aviation gateway for The Red Sea tourism project.
Route broadens Etihad’s Saudi flight network
Situated along Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast, the Red Sea destination features islands, reefs, lagoons, mangroves, and inland mountain scenery. Red Sea Global reports that the destination started welcoming visitors in 2023. A subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, the company is behind the development of The Red Sea and AMAALA tourism projects. Red Sea International Airport serves as the main air gateway to The Red Sea development, operating with renewable energy sources for its airside functions, including essential lighting and navigation systems.
Etihad’s Saudi flight network presently includes Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim, with Red Sea International Airport poised to become its sixth destination. The airline regards Saudi Arabia as one of its most significant regional markets, with consistent traffic driven by business, family, and religious travelers year-round. The addition of the Red Sea route introduces a leisure-oriented destination while maintaining Abu Dhabi as the hub. Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves highlighted that the new route shortens travel time to islands and reefs close to Abu Dhabi.
Airport expands its direct Gulf connectivity
The airport was developed and built by Red Sea Global, with daa International managing its operations. Domestic flights launched in September 2023, followed by the first international flight from Dubai in April 2024. Subsequently, Red Sea Global added further airline services as scheduled flights to the airport increased. The developer emphasizes that the airport caters to tourists heading to resorts within the coastal development, with transfer options via electric vehicle, boat, or seaplane to individual resorts.
The inaugural Abu Dhabi to Red Sea International flight for Etihad is scheduled for Oct. 4, with the twice-weekly service beginning three weeks later. Bookings are available on Etihad’s website for the new route. The Airbus A320 configuration offers 158 seats per flight. The airline plans to operate the service throughout the year without any seasonal restrictions. This new route strengthens the direct air link between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.