8 New direct flights from the Middle East launching this December

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Qatar Airways is one of several airlines increasing flight frequencies in December

Airlines across the Middle East are set to expand their networks in December 2025, adding new destinations, boosting frequencies on popular routes and resuming suspended services, while international airlines continue to make regional debuts, connecting to cities throughout the Gulf.

Highlights include Air Arabia’s first Sharjah–Munich service, new SalamAir flights from Muscat to Abha, and increased frequencies from Emirates and Flyadeal to Cairo, Kuala Lumpur and Lagos.

1. Thai AirAsia X: Riyadh-Bangkok

Thai AirAsia X is set to launch its first-ever direct flights between Riyadh and Bangkok, marking the airline’s debut service to the Saudi Arabia capital. The service will commence on 2 December 2025, with four weekly flights on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Flights will depart Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport (DMK) at 16:00, arriving at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH) by 20:20 local time. Return flights leave RUH at 21:35 and land in DMK at 08:45 the next day, cutting the journey time to just seven and a half hours.

2. SalamAir: Muscat to Abha

SalamAir, Oman’s low-cost carrier, will begin a direct service to Abha in the southwestern region of Saudi Arabia from 16 December 2025, with four direct weekly services. Outbound services will operate on Fridays and Sundays, departing Muscat at 09:35 and arriving in Abha at 11:25. Additional flights on Tuesdays and Thursdays will leave Muscat at 14:35 and reach Abha at 16:25. Inbound services from Abha will operate on Fridays and Sundays at 12:25, arriving in Muscat at 16:10. Returning flights on Tuesdays and Thursdays depart Abha at 17:25 and arrive in Muscat at 21:10.

Abha is located in the mountainous Aseer region

3. Etihad: Abu Dhabi-Kabul

Etihad Airways will launch flights between Abu Dhabi and Kabul in Afghanistan starting 18 December, with the service running three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The outbound flight will take off from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH) at 14:45, arriving at Kabul International Airport (KBL) at 18:15. The return service will depart Kabul at 19:10, touching down in Abu Dhabi at 22:10 local time.

4. Qatar Airways: Doha-Lagos and Doha-Kuala Lumpur

From 15 December 2025 to 28 March 2026, Qatar Airways’ Doha-Lagos service will rise from 10 to 14 flights weekly, due to rising demand. This will be followed two days later by an increase in flight frequencies on the Doha-Kuala Lumpur route, with increases from 14 to 17 flights per week.

Qatar Airways to extend winter schedule with 13 more weekly flights

Thai AirAsia X to launch direct Riyadh-Bangkok service

5. Emirates: Dubai-Cairo

Emirates will introduce six extra weekly flights to Cairo from 1 December 2025, building toward a full fifth daily service from 1 February 2026, using Boeing 777 aircraft. Services from 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2026 will run on all days other than Thursday. During this period, flights will depart Dubai International Airport (DXB) at 10:45 and arrive at Cairo International Airport (CAI) at 13:00. Returning flights will leave Cairo at 14:40 and reach Dubai at 19:55.

6. Eurowings: Dubai-Düsseldorf

From 13 December, flights from Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) to Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) will operate three times a week on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Departures will leave DUS at 06:50 and 08:35 (alternating weekly), arriving in DWC at 17:25. Return flights leave DWC at 18:05, landing in DUS at 22:45. The Dubai-Düsseldorf route will also introduce Eurowings’ new Premium BIZ Seat.

dusseldorf germany shutterstock 727937326

Düsseldorf will be accessible from Dubai via Eurowings

7. Air Arabia: Sharjah-Munich

A new daily route between Sharjah and Munich is set to launch on 15 December 2025, marking the carrier’s first scheduled service to Germany. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the service departs Sharjah International Airport at 07:25, arriving at Munich Airport at 11:15. The return service leaves Munich at 21:55, arriving back in Sharjah at 07:00 the following day. On Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, the service leaves Sharjah at 17:15, touching down in Munich at 21:05. The return leg departs Munich at 12:05, landing in Sharjah at 21:10.

8. Austrian Airlines: Dubai-Vienna

Austrian Airlines is set to launch direct flights between Vienna and Dubai from 1 December 2025, marking a debut for the carrier on the route. The service will operate five times a week on a seasonal trial through March 2026 every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Flight OS89 is scheduled to depart Vienna at 18:55, arriving at Dubai International Airport at 03:40 local time the next day. The return leg, OS90, will leave Dubai at 06:05, landing in Vienna at 09:25.

To discover the latest airline routes and additional frequencies from the region, bookmark Connecting Travel’s Aviation News at connectingtravel.com/news/aviation, and follow us on Linkedin and Instagram