Red Sea International Airport unlocks global connection with three weekly Qatar Airways’ flights from Doha
Flights commence on October 21 – every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday – are now available for booking.
Riyadh, 8 September 2025: Red Sea International Airport (RSI), operated by daa International, and Red Sea Global (RSG) – the developer behind Saudi Arabia’s flagship regenerative tourism destinations The Red Sea and AMAALA, has announced a major boost to international connectivity with the launch of Qatar Airways’ new direct services from Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH), the Best Airport in the Middle East as voted by Skytrax in 2025.
Now available for bookings via qatarairways.com and the airline’s mobile application, the new flights will operate three times a week. The flights will link RSI to Qatar Airways’ extensive global network of over 170 destinations and connect it with one of the world’s busiest and best-connected hubs, Hamad International Airport, which can accommodate over 65 million passengers annually. The introduction of these direct services will also provide seamless one-stop access for travellers from across six continents, including Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe.
This launch significantly expands the destination’s reach into global aviation networks for both inbound leisure and surrounding communities through Qatar Airways – the World’s Best Airline, as voted by Skytrax in 2025 for the ninth time. Enabled by the strategic support of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and the Air Connectivity Programme (ACP), this launch marks a pivotal advancement in connecting the world to The Red Sea destination. The service will also offer an accessible and efficient gateway to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast – an emerging luxury tourism hotspot key to the of Saudi Vision 2030’s economic diversification strategy.
Qatar Airways flights will operate every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday:
- Doha (DOH) → The Red Sea (RSI) – Flight QR1226: Departure 7:45, Arrival 10:45
- The Red Sea (RSI) → Doha (DOH) – Flight QR1227: Departure 11:45, Arrival 14:15
Michael White, Chief Commercial Officer of Red Sea International Airport, said: “This is a pivotal moment for Red Sea International Airport. By adding Qatar Airways to our growing network, we are not only expanding our international reach, but we are connecting directly into one of the world’s most powerful global aviation hubs. This service will allow us to tap into entirely new source markets, making it easier for travellers from every corner of the world to discover The Red Sea destination. “
daa International, Chief Executive Officer, Nick Cole said: "The launch of Qatar Airways’ direct services from Doha marks yet another major milestone for Red Sea International Airport. By connecting with one of the world’s leading global hubs, we are opening up seamless access to travellers across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Africa. This new route is not only a powerful step forward in expanding international connectivity, but it also reinforces our commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Congratulations to the Air Service Development team at RSI and to all at RSG who made this significant partnership possible"
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “Qatar Airways’ addition of The Red Sea route to our global network is yet another example of our dedication to providing diverse destinations that the discerning global traveller demands. The Red Sea – our 12th destination in Saudi Arabia – offers a wide range of distinct and enriching Middle East experiences. With this announcement, these travel experiences are now accessible with the World’s Best Airline through our award-winning hub – Hamad International Airport.”
With more connections and services on the horizon, the airport is set to become a key gateway to one of the world’s most extraordinary destinations. Located 90 km south of Al Wajh in the west of Saudi Arabia, RSI is within three hours flying time for 250 million people and within eight hours for 85% of the global population.
With the state-of-the-art main terminal set to be fully operational by the end of this year, and with more flights moving forward, RSI is gearing up for seamless connections to this one-of-a-kind destination set to serve one million guests annually by 2030.
For flight booking, visit qatarairways.com.
For more information visit www.visitredsea.com.
-ENDS-
About Red Sea International Airport
Red Sea International Airport (RSI) forms part of The Red Sea, a luxury regenerative tourism destination developed by Red Sea Global (RSG). Located on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, The Red Sea is designed to set new standards in sustainable tourism, blending environmental stewardship with world-class hospitality.
Located ninety (90) kilometres south of Al Wajh, RSI is a two million passenger capacity airport situated within eight (8) hours’ flying time of 85% of the world’s population. It serves as the primary gateway for both domestic and international flights, connecting travellers to The Red Sea destination.
Inspired by forms of the desert, the green oasis and the sea, RSI was designed by Foster + Partners and Jacobs.
RSI is operated by daa International, a leading global airport management, consultancy and investment company.
About Qatar Airways
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways won the ‘World’s Best Airline’ for an unprecedented ninth time at the 2025 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. Qatar Airways was previously named the World’s Best Airline in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024.
The airline continues to be synonymous with excellence, and has yet again received recognition for ‘World's Best Business Class’, and ‘World's Best Business Class Airline Lounge’. As the leading connector in the region, Qatar Airways has also been lauded with the ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’ title for the 13 time.
Qatar Airways currently flies to over 170 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for 11 consecutive years, as well as ‘World’s Best Airport Shopping’ for the third year in a row, as voted by Skytrax. Hamad International Airport has previously been named the ‘World’s Best Airport’ by Skytrax in 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Qatar Airways was the first Airline in the Middle East to be certified to the highest level of IATA’s Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme, based on recognised environmental management system principles (such as ISO 14001). As an inaugural signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration in March 2016, Qatar Airways became the first airline globally to be certified to the industry standard for the prevention of illegal wildlife trafficking in aviation.
About daa International
daa International is a leading global airport management, consultancy and investment company and part of the wider daa Group, headquartered in Dublin. With a presence in over 30 locations across 15 countries, daa International has a global reach spanning from Australia to North America, including in Saudi Arabia where in addition to operating the Red Sea International Airport, the company has a significant presence in both King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah and King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh. Drawing on 85 years' award-winning airport experience from across the daa Group, daa International delivers value and knowledge transfer to clients, and a world class airport experience for passengers and guests across its airport portfolio.
Contact details
Ohoud M. Aljabr
Head of Marketing
Red Sea International Airport