Etihad Airways is launching flights between Abu Dhabi and Red Sea International Airport in Saudi Arabia on 4 October 2026, adding a new international link to the developing Red Sea tourism destination.
The year-round service will initially operate once a week before increasing to two flights per week from 25 October. The route will be operated using an Airbus A320 with eight Business Class seats and 150 seats in Economy.
The new service will connect Red Sea International Airport (RSI) with Abu Dhabi, allowing passengers from Etihad’s wider network to reach the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coast via the UAE capital.
Red Sea International Airport is the main gateway to The Red Sea, a tourism development on Saudi Arabia’s north-western coast. The airport opened to domestic flights in 2023, with international services beginning in 2024. It was developed by Red Sea Global and is operated by daa International.
Etihad’s service will add another international airline to RSI’s existing network. Saudia was the first carrier to operate from the airport, initially connecting it with Riyadh and later Jeddah and Dammam. flydubai launched the airport’s first international service in April 2024, connecting RSI with Dubai. Qatar Airways subsequently began three weekly flights between Doha and RSI in October 2025.
The addition of Abu Dhabi will provide another connection to a major Gulf aviation hub. Etihad said passengers travelling from destinations across its network, including the Gulf and Indian subcontinent, will be able to reach the Red Sea destination with a connection in Abu Dhabi.
Red Sea International Airport is located within the tourism development. Its terminal was designed by Foster + Partners and uses a series of structures inspired by the surrounding desert landscape.
Red Sea Global has been expanding air connectivity as more hotels and tourism facilities open. The Red Sea is part of Saudi Arabia’s wider tourism development programme under Vision 2030. The destination is being developed around its coastal environment, with resorts and visitor experiences spread across islands and inland areas.
