10 New direct flights from the Middle East launching this October

Sign up to our newsletters

Stay informed with the
latest news and analysis

REGISTER

عربي

You are viewing 2 of your 2 free articles

Emirates A350

Travellers from the Middle East have more flight options from October 2025, including new destinations, additional services on high-demand routes and first-time carriers entering exciting markets.

From the first direct transatlantic flight between Bahrain and New York to three weekly flights connecting Qatar’s Doha with Saudi Arabia’s ultra-luxury destination The Red Sea, and increased frequencies from the region to destinations including Dublin, Barcelona and Bangkok, here are 10 direct flights to know about:

1 Emirates: Dubai-Dublin

Dubai-based Emirates will introduce a third daily service between Dubai and Dublin from 26 October 2025, bringing the total number of weekly flights to the Irish capital to 21. The new morning service will depart Dubai International (DXB) at 02:10, landing in Dublin Airport (DUB) at 06:25 local time. The return service will leave DUB at 08:25, arriving in DXB at 20:00. All three daily operations will run from Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport

2 Emirates: Dubai-Barcelona

Dubai-based Emirates is ramping up services to Barcelona, adding a third daily flight to the Spanish city from 26 October. The new daily flight will depart Dubai International Airport (DXB) at 03:45, arriving at Barcelona Airport (BCN) at 08:15. The return flight will leave BCN at 15:10, arriving at DXB at 00:35 the next morning.

Coastal city of Barcelona

3 Etihad Airways: Abu Dhabi-Karachi

The UAE’s national airline will expand its service between Abu Dhabi and Karachi, doubling non-stop daily flights to four to the Pakistan city from 1 October. There will be four daily direct flights, providing a total of 28 weekly non-stop services to Pakistan’s economic hub, with timings here.

4 Qatar Airways: Doha-Red Sea

Qatar Airways will begin flights to Red Sea International (RSI) airport from 21 October 2025, connecting its global network to Saudi Arabia’s ultra-luxury destination The Red Sea. Flights will depart every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, leaving DOH at 07:45 and arriving at RSI at 10.45. Return flights will depart RSI at 11.45, arriving at DOH at 14.15.

Dubai-based Emirates to add third daily flight to Barcelona

31 new flight routes for Middle East travellers this summer

5 Qatar Airways: Doha-Beijing

Following expansion of their codeshare agreement, Qatar Airways and China Southern Airlines have added three weekly flights between Doha and Beijing Daxing from 16 October 2025.

6 Gulf Air: Bahrain-New York

Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, is set to launch its first-ever transatlantic route from 1 October, with a direct Bahrain-New York service. The service will operate three times a week, departing Bahrain International Airport (BAH) every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday aboard the airline’s state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

New York City skyline

7 Air Arabia: Sharjah-Male

Air Arabia, the Middle East’s largest low-cost carrier, will expand its service between Sharjah and the Maldives, doubling non-stop daily flights to the Indian Ocean archipelago just a year after launch. Starting 27 October 2025, twice-daily direct flights will connect Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) in the UAE with Velana International Airport (VIA) in Malé, with timings found here.

8 Air Arabia: Sharjah-Bangkok

Air Arabia is set to launch a third daily flight between Sharjah and Bangkok starting October 26, increasing the carrier’s weekly flights to 21, a 50% boost in seat capacity. The new morning service will depart SHJ at 07:40 landing in Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) at 4:55 local time. The return service will depart BKK at 5:55, arriving in SHJ at 9:55.

Bangkok at night

9 Jazeera Airways: Kuwait-Abu Dhabi

Jazeera Airways has relaunched direct flights between Kuwait and both Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, starting from 2 October, 2025, adding to its existing three daily flights to Dubai.

10 Lufthansa: Munich-Riyadh

Lufthansa is set to return to Saudi capital Riyadh from 26 October, resuming its Munich–Riyadh service after an eight-year absence. The new service will depart Munich at 21:45, arriving in Riyadh at 04:50 the following day. The return flight leaves Riyadh at 06:25, touching down in Munich at 10:25.