UAE-Afghanistan travel: Etihad Airways announces new flights from Abu Dhabi to Kabul
Three weekly A320 services to begin from 18th December
ABU DHABI – Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has announced the launch of direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Kabul, marking its return to the Afghan capital from 18 December 2025.
The new route will operate three times a week using the Airbus A320 aircraft, offering eight Business Class and 150 Economy Class seats.
The move comes amid increasing demand for travel between the UAE and Afghanistan, catering to trade, investment, and the large Afghan expatriate community across the Gulf and beyond. Kabul becomes Etihad’s 31st new destination announced in 2025, reflecting the airline’s continued growth in regional and strategic markets.
UAE-Afghanistan travel
The UAE is home to one of the largest Afghan communities in the Gulf, estimated at around 300,000 residents, according to the Afghan Business Council. The new service will enhance travel convenience for Afghan nationals living in the Emirates and facilitate easier access to family and business connections.
Etihad’s network expansion aims to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a key regional hub, offering onward connections to destinations across Europe, Australia, North America, and the GCC.
Afghanistan, home to one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, has a history stretching back over 3,000 years. With more than six million Afghans living abroad, the new flights are expected to bridge communities and strengthen cultural exchange through improved air links.
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Kabul represents another important step in Etihad’s strategy to expand access to markets within a four-hour radius of Abu Dhabi, while strengthening connections to major destinations across our global network.”
The introduction of flights to Kabul follows a year of accelerated network growth for Etihad, as it expands into high-demand regional markets. Passenger numbers have risen by more than 80% since 2022, and the airline is targeting 38 million annual passengers by 2030.