From Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, Etihad Airways flies Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast twice a week. That is up from one weekly flight when the route opened on Oct. 4. The airline said so in its September announcement.
The destination is Red Sea International Airport (RSI), inside the Red Sea Global tourism project in Tabuk Province. Etihad says the flight takes a little over three hours. For travelers who want beach and reef time without a long-haul hop, that is the point.
What the schedule looks like
At launch, Etihad ran one weekly round trip. From Oct. 25 it runs two. The airline has not published a full day-of-week table in that newsroom post, so check the booking engine for the exact days before you plan a short stay.
The aircraft is an Airbus A320 with eight seats in Business and 150 in Economy. That is a narrowbody leisure layout, not a long-haul cabin. If you need a lie-flat seat for a connection through Abu Dhabi, you will find that on Etihad's widebodies into Zayed International (AUH), then connect.
Twice-weekly service still means you cannot treat RSI like a daily city pair. Miss your outbound and the next Etihad metal may be days away. Build flexibility into hotel nights on both ends.
Why the Red Sea matters now
Etihad calls Red Sea its sixth Saudi destination, after Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina and Al Qassim. Saudi Arabia has been pushing coastal tourism hard under Vision 2030, and Red Sea Global is one of the flagship projects. Resorts sit across more than ninety islands off the north-western coast.
CEO Antonoaldo Neves framed the route as a short flight for a trip people usually book long-haul for. That is the traveler takeaway. You can reach reefs and beach resorts from Abu Dhabi in an afternoon, then connect onward on Etihad's network.
Qatar Airways also added Red Sea service in late 2025. The coast is no longer a single-airline market. Etihad's edge for many readers will be the Abu Dhabi connection bank and Etihad Guest miles, not raw frequency.
Who this is for
Gulf-based leisure travelers can use it for a weekend or long weekend without leaving the region. One-stop visitors from Europe, Asia or Australia can connect in Abu Dhabi instead of routing through Jeddah or Riyadh. Etihad Guest members who want a short Saudi segment on metal they already know get another option.
Access rules for Etihad's lounges at AUH still follow your cabin and status. Our Abu Dhabi airport page lists what is open airside. RSI itself is a destination airport built for the resorts, so expect a smaller terminal feel than a mega-hub.
What to check before you book
Saudi entry rules, resort transfers and which islands are open to visitors change as the destination ramps up. Etihad's announcement does not list hotel partners or package fares. Book the flight first, then confirm ground transport with your resort.
If you are connecting through AUH, leave a solid buffer. Three hours is safer than a tight 90 minutes when you need to clear security again. Confirm visa rules for your nationality; a beach ticket does not always equal easy entry.
Frequency at Etihad is still modest at twice weekly. Oct. 25 is the first real step up from a token weekly flight, and it is the date that makes the route usable for more than a publicity launch.
Sources
- Etihad Airways, "Book your October by the sea" (Sept. 8, 2026): https://www.etihad.com/en/news/book-your-october-by-the-sea-etihad-flies-to-saudi-arabias-red-sea-coast-from-4-october
