ATM Dubai 2026: Etihad signs Uzbekistan tourism deal as Abu Dhabi-Tashkent route expands
Partnership targets international visitor growth through joint marketing
DUBAI – Etihad Airways has signed a Memorandum of Co-operation (MoC) with the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan to strengthen tourism and trade links between the UAE and Uzbekistan.
The agreement was signed during Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 in Dubai, following the launch of Etihad’s first-ever route to the Central Asian country.
The partnership will focus on promoting Uzbekistan to travellers across Etihad’s international network.
UAE-Uzbekistan travel
Under the agreement, Etihad and Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee will work together on marketing campaigns, promotional activities and trade initiatives aimed at raising the country’s profile among the airline’s international guests.
The MoC was signed by Aysha Saeed Al Kaabi, Vice President Commercial Enablement at Etihad Airways, and Abdulaziz Akkulov, Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan.
Etihad Chief Executive Officer Antonoaldo Neves said the airline’s daily service to Tashkent, combined with its growing codeshare partnership with Uzbekistan Airways, would make it easier for travellers to reach destinations including Samarkand and Bukhara.
Akkulov said 9.1 million foreign tourists visited Uzbekistan between January and August 2026, while tourism service exports reached $4.6 billion. He said the country was seeking to broaden inbound tourism, improve access to destinations and strengthen its presence in international tourism markets.
Etihad in Uzbekistan
Etihad launched its first-ever Uzbekistan route on 9 August 2026, introducing a daily non-stop Airbus A320 service between Abu Dhabi and Tashkent. The route provides a direct connection between the UAE capital and Uzbekistan’s capital, creating a new gateway to Central Asia.
The new service builds on Etihad’s codeshare agreement with Uzbekistan Airways, which took effect on 15 May 2026. Through the arrangement, Etihad guests can book single-ticket journeys to eight additional destinations in Uzbekistan.
The destinations include Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench, Nukus, Termez, Fergana, Namangan and Andijan, alongside other key routes operated across the Uzbekistan Airways network.