Etihad announces Abu Dhabi flights to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast from October 4
New service connects travellers with resorts, reefs and beaches along Tabuk’s coast
ABU DHABI – Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will begin flying to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast from 4th October.
The year-round service to Red Sea International Airport will add a new leisure destination to Etihad’s network, just over three hours from Abu Dhabi.
The route will launch with one flight a week before increasing to two weekly services from 25 October.
Coastal escape
More than 90 islands lie off Saudi Arabia’s north-western coast in Tabuk Province, surrounded by shallow turquoise waters and reefs forming part of one of the world’s largest coral systems. Turtles, dolphins and rays move through the lagoons, while mangroves line the shore. Inland, where the desert of the Hejaz begins, lava fields and mountains rise within a short drive of the beaches.
The resorts are small and spread along the coast rather than gathered in one place. For guests, this means diving, sailing, desert experiences and stretches of beach are all within minutes of their accommodation, in a destination where seclusion is built into the setting.
The flight takes a little over three hours, allowing travellers to leave Abu Dhabi mid-morning and reach the beach by early afternoon. Red Sea International Airport sits within the destination itself, meaning guests can reach their hotels soon after landing rather than facing a long transfer at the end of the journey.
Etihad in Saudi Arabia
Guests travelling from across Etihad’s network can reach The Red Sea with a single connection in Abu Dhabi, including travellers from across the Gulf and Indian subcontinent. As the service will operate year-round, the destination will be accessible in every season.
For visitors from further afield, the route also creates an option for a two-destination holiday. Through Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Stopover programme, guests can spend a few days exploring the UAE capital’s islands, beaches, culture and entertainment before continuing to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.
The Red Sea will become Etihad’s sixth destination in Saudi Arabia, alongside Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina and Al Qassim. Saudi Arabia is among the airline’s largest markets in the region, carrying business, family and religious travellers throughout the year, while The Red Sea adds a leisure destination to that network.
Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer Antonoaldo Neves said the new route would bring a long-haul-style holiday closer to Abu Dhabi, highlighting the destination’s islands, reefs and relaxation.
New service
The Abu Dhabi-Red Sea service begins on 4 October 2026 with one flight a week, rising to two weekly flights from 25 October 2026. The route will be operated by an Airbus A320 featuring eight seats in Business and 150 in Economy.
Flights are available to book through Etihad’s website.