MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

Etihad Airways, a leading airline from the United Arab Emirates, is entering the Georgian aviation market. According to the preliminary application submitted to the Civil Aviation Agency, the airline plans to commence operations on the Abu Dhabi-Tbilisi-Abu Dhabi route starting March 1, 2026. Flights are planned to be operated 14 times a week. Procedures related to granting flight permits to Etihad Airways will begin before the 2025-2026 winter navigation season.

Currently, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi operates a Abu Dhabi-Tbilisi-Abu Dhabi route. At this point, flights on this route are performed 7 times a week. According to statistical data, Georgia has the most active air traffic with the United Arab Emirates among the Gulf countries. Based on last year’s data, 647 710 passengers were transported between the two countries, which accounted for 59% of the total passenger traffic between Georgia and the Gulf countries.

Etihad Airways is one of the best airlines in the Middle East being ranked 4th by “SKYTRAX,” a globally recognized organization for researching and evaluating the quality of airline and airport services (according to 2025 data). The entry of Etihad Airways into the Georgian aviation market will contribute to deepening trade and economic relations between the two countries, further increasing passenger traffic, and strengthening the civil aviation and tourism sectors in Georgia.