Qatar Airways has begun operating three weekly non-stop flights between Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha and Red Sea International Airport (RSI) in Saudi Arabia.
The Red Sea becomes Qatar Airways’ 12th destination in the Kingdom, joining existing services to Abha, AlUla, Dammam, Jeddah, Medina, NEOM, Qassim, Riyadh, Tabuk, Taif, and Yanbu.
The expansion strengthens the airline’s presence in the Saudi market and adds to Qatar Airways’ network of more than 170 global destinations.
The inaugural flight’s arrival on October 21, 2025 was marked by a reception at RSI Airport, with Qatar Airways’ delegation including Abdullah Al Malki, Senior Vice President of Business Control and Financial Support, Karthik Viswanathan, Vice President of Sales for the Middle East, Caucasus, Pakistan & ISC, and Sheikh Jassim bin Fahad Al-Thani, Head of Aeropolitical & Regulatory Affairs.
Qatar Airways today marks the launch of three weekly non-stop flights to Red Sea International Airport (RSI), operated by daa International, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from Hamad International Airport (DOH), the Best Airport in the Middle East as voted by Skytrax in 2025.… pic.twitter.com/0OKg9DQRMn
— Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) October 21, 2025
The airline delegation was welcomed by John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global, the developer behind the Red Sea destination and the airport, and Andrew Tyler-Smith, CEO of Red Sea International Airport.
An emerging tourist destination, the Red Sea is located on Saudi Arabia’s western coast between Umluj and Al Wajh. Tourists can visit the location’s 90 islands and coral reefs, desert landscapes, volcanic mountains, and one of the world’s largest reef systems.
Qatar Airways’ flights to the Red Sea operate on the following schedule:
Flight QR 1226 departing Doha 07:45 local time arriving Red Sea 10:45 local time
Flight QR 1227 departing Red Sea 11:45 local time arriving Doha 14: 15 local time
“We at Qatar Airways are proud to expand our global network of more than 170 destinations with the inauguration of service to The Red Sea. The importance of the Saudi market, and our commitment to it, is proven by the growing reach of our services in the Kingdom,” Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said.
“This new route – a testament to the close ties between the two countries – offers travellers seamless, world class access to one of the Middle East’s emerging destinations onboard the World’s Best Airline,” he concluded.