Etihad Airways has issued an urgent travel update announcing the cancellation of all passenger services between Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport and the Saudi gateways of Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah until at least 14 October 2026. The airline says the decision follows “regional disruption” and a dynamic security environment that has already seen projectile strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. Monday’s advisory confirms that flights EY575/576 and EY573/574 on the Abu Dhabi–Dammam route are cancelled for 12 October, with rolling cancellations on 13–14 October. Services EY601–604 on the Jeddah rotation are likewise suspended, while the entire Riyadh schedule is on hold until 19 October. Affected passengers are being re-accommodated or offered refunds, and Etihad urges travellers to keep contact details updated so that re-booking options can be communicated directly. Operational teams are monitoring the situation “minute-by-minute”; further changes remain possible if security conditions deteriorate or Saudi airspace restrictions tighten. Etihad says safety “is our number-one priority”, advising customers not to travel to the airport until they have received a confirmed re-booking. For corporate mobility managers, the disruption highlights the need for robust travel-risk management and flexible ticketing strategies when routing staff through Gulf hubs. Companies should also review contingency plans for time-sensitive cargo routed on passenger aircraft, as freighter capacity into Saudi Arabia is already constrained.
