October 12, 2026 — Etihad Airways (EY) has cancelled every Abu Dhabi–Riyadh flight until Monday, October 19, extending a suspension that had been due to end on October 13. It has also cut its Dammam service this week and some Jeddah flights.
What is cancelled
| Route | Cancellations |
|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi–Riyadh | All flights until Monday, October 19 |
| Abu Dhabi–Dammam | Four flights on Monday, October 12; all flights on Tuesday, October 13 and Wednesday, October 14 |
| Abu Dhabi–Jeddah | Selected flights through Thursday, October 15 |
The cuts follow repeated attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, which Saudi authorities have closed with no reopening date, and a strike on Dammam’s airport late on October 11. Etihad says the situation “remains dynamic” and more changes are possible. It is asking passengers to check their flight status at etihad.com before travelling.
What it means for travelers
- There is no Etihad option to Riyadh until October 19 at the earliest, and only a partial schedule to Jeddah through October 15. Do not plan trips to Saudi Arabia on EY this week.
- Dammam is out on October 13–14. Flights after that are TBA, so check the schedule again the day before you fly.
- Expect a rebooking backlog when flights resume. Passengers from a week of cancelled Saudi flights will need to be rebooked, so the first flights back will probably be full.
Sources
- The National — Riyadh airport closure: Etihad cancels flights until October 19
- Gulf News — UAE-Saudi Flights Disrupted: Emirates, Etihad, flydubai Cancel Services to Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah
- Aviation Week — Saudi Airport Attacks Trigger Cancellations, Airspace Warnings
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