Etihad Airways launches year-round service between Abu Dhabi and Red Sea International Airport
Etihad Airways is expanding its Saudi Arabian network with the launch of
year-round services between Abu Dhabi and Red Sea International Airport,
strengthening air connectivity between the United Arab Emirates and one of
Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious new tourism destinations.
The Abu Dhabi-based airline is scheduled to begin flights to Red Sea
International Airport on October 4, 2026. The service will initially
operate once a week before increasing to two weekly flights from October
25, according to the carrier’s latest network plans.
The route will connect Abu Dhabi with Saudi Arabia’s emerging Red Sea
tourism hub in roughly three hours, providing travelers from the UAE with
direct access to the Kingdom’s growing portfolio of luxury coastal resorts
while also opening another gateway for international visitors connecting
through Abu Dhabi.
Etihad Expands Its Saudi Network
The new service forms part of Etihad’s broader network expansion across
the Gulf and Middle East as the airline seeks to strengthen regional
connectivity and capitalize on rising tourism demand.
The Red Sea route will also make Etihad one of the first international
airlines to establish scheduled service to Red Sea International Airport. The
airport was developed by Red Sea Global to serve Saudi Arabia’s flagship Red
Sea tourism project and began domestic operations in 2023 before expanding its
international network.
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to become inaugural airline partner of Red Sea International Airport
Etihad has already increased its presence in Saudi Arabia in recent years.
The airline launched four weekly services between Abu Dhabi and Al Qassim in
2024, adding to its existing connections with major Saudi cities.
The latest expansion reflects the growing importance of Saudi Arabia to
regional airlines as the Kingdom accelerates investment in tourism, hospitality
and infrastructure under its Vision 2030 economic diversification
program.
Red Sea International Airport Targets Luxury Tourism
Red Sea International Airport is designed to serve as the principal
gateway to the Red Sea destination, a major luxury tourism development
stretching along Saudi Arabia’s western coastline between Umluj and Al Wajh.
The destination is being developed around a combination of island resorts,
coastal hotels, marine experiences and nature-based attractions. Project plans
emphasize environmental protection and renewable-energy infrastructure,
reflecting Saudi Arabia’s push toward more sustainable forms of tourism
development.
The airport welcomed its first domestic flights in 2023, with Saudia
initially operating services. International connectivity has since expanded,
with airlines including flydubai and Qatar Airways adding scheduled routes from
Dubai and Doha.
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to operate private terminal at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Airport
Etihad’s arrival will further integrate the destination into the Gulf’s
rapidly expanding aviation network and provide another connection to one of
Saudi Arabia’s most closely watched tourism projects.
Gulf Tourism Demand Continues to Grow
The expansion comes as travel between Gulf countries continues to
represent an important component of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector.
Saudi Ministry of Tourism figures show that approximately 8.6 million
visitors from Gulf Cooperation Council countries traveled to Saudi Arabia in
2023, generating more than 15 billion Saudi riyals in spending. The
UAE was among the Kingdom’s leading GCC source markets, accounting for roughly
1.4 million to 1.5 million visitors.
Saudi Arabia has also experienced a broader surge in tourism. The Kingdom
recorded approximately 116 million visitors in 2024, including nearly 30
million international tourists and more than 86 million domestic travelers.
The growth reflects the rapid expansion of Saudi Arabia’s tourism
infrastructure, as the Kingdom seeks to reduce its reliance on oil revenues and
establish itself as a major international leisure and business destination.
At the same time, the UAE continues to attract record numbers of
international visitors, particularly through Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The parallel
growth of both markets is contributing to a more interconnected Gulf tourism
industry, with airlines increasingly facilitating multi-destination trips
across the region.
Air Connectivity Supports Vision 2030
Saudi Arabia has set ambitious tourism targets under Vision 2030, with
national strategies calling for a substantial increase in annual visitors by
the end of the decade.
Large-scale developments including the Red Sea, NEOM and Diriyah form part
of that strategy, alongside the expansion of cultural attractions,
entertainment venues and hospitality infrastructure across the Kingdom.
The Red Sea project occupies a particularly prominent position because of
its focus on luxury tourism and environmentally sensitive coastal development.
The destination is expected to combine high-end resorts with controlled visitor
numbers and conservation initiatives aimed at protecting its marine and coastal
ecosystems.
Read More Red
Sea Global starts revamping Al Wajh Airport
Etihad’s new route gives the project an additional link to Abu Dhabi,
itself a major international aviation hub. The connection could help facilitate
travel from Europe and Asia, where passengers can use Abu Dhabi as a gateway to
the Red Sea destination.
The route may also encourage travelers to combine holidays in the UAE and
Saudi Arabia, creating multi-country itineraries that take in destinations
across both markets.
Competition for Red Sea Travelers Intensifies
The expansion of international air services is also increasing competition
among Gulf and Saudi carriers seeking to capture the emerging premium leisure
market.
Saudia has expanded connectivity to the Red Sea region, while flydubai and
Qatar Airways have established links from Dubai and Doha respectively. Etihad’s
entry adds Abu Dhabi to that network and gives the Red Sea destination access
to the airline’s broader international passenger base.
As additional resorts open along Saudi Arabia’s western coast, airlines
are likely to play an increasingly important role in determining how quickly
the region develops as an international leisure market.
The growth of services could also lead to closer cooperation between
airlines, hotels and tourism authorities, including joint marketing campaigns
and travel packages designed to combine UAE and Saudi destinations.
Source: www.thetraveler.org/
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